FINN HARPS will be playing Premier Division football in 2020 after an epic promotion-relegation play-off second leg in Ballybofey.
Not since 2013 has a Premier Division side won this make-or-break play-off but Ollie Horgan’s side triumphed thanks to Mark Russell and an extra-time match-winner from Harry Ascroft to spark wild scenes.
Harps — trailing 1-0 from the first leg — went ahead on seven minutes.
Following a short corner, Raff Cretaro found Ruairí Harkin outside the box and his teasing ball in was met by the Russell, who climbed above the Drogheda defence to head powerfully beyond the reach of Luca Gratzer.
They went within inches of doubling their lead in the 39th minute when Sam Todd met a Mark Timlin corner only to see his effort fly just over.
Drogheda’s first real chance did not materialise until the 64th minute when Mark Doyle’s shot was smartly saved by Mark Anthony McGinley.
Play immediately swung to the other end where Mikey Place was unable to force the ball home from close range after a Russell shot was blocked.
Twice in the final six minutes, Mark Doyle had chances for the Drogs but on both occasions McGinley was well placed.
The first half of extra-time saw no real clear-cut chances but at the start of the second, Harps got the all-important goal as Ascroft got on to the end of a Tony McNamee corner to score from close range.
Drogheda had a couple of late chances but Harps held on.
For Harps this was very much in the ‘Great Escape’ category and the celebrations were understandable.
It took them 16 matches before they won their first Premier Division game of the season.
And they came from eight points behind UCD to finish nine points above the Belfield side and clinch their spot in the play-offs.
SUN STAR MAN: Harry Ascroft (Finn Harps)
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FINN HARPS: McGinley 7; Borg 7, Ascroft 8, Cowan 8, Todd 7, Russell 7; R. Harkin 8 (McNamee 93, 7), G. Harkin 7, Timlin 8; Cretaro 7 (Coyle 90, 6) (O’Reilly 103, 6), Place 7 (Boyle 73, 6).
DROGHEDA UNITED: Gratzer 6; Brown 6, McNally 6, Farragher 6, Kane 7; Hughes 7 (Adeyemo 96, 6); Meaney 6 (Wixted 45, 6), Brennan 6 (Hollywood 61, 6), Heeney 6, Doyle 7; Lyons 7 (O’Shea 120, 6)
REFEREE: N Doyle (Dublin) 7.