Tony McNamee strikes again as Finn Harps cap off an excellent Easter

Tony McNamee scored his second goal of the Easter weekend as Finn Harps moved to within a point of First Division leaders Cork City.

McNamee sealed the Bank Holiday Monday win over Bray Wanderers with a cool finish.

Harps struck in the closing minutes of each half with David having set them on their way with the opener.

In stoppage time at the end of the first half, Cawley was fed on the edge of the area by a clever McNamee pass.

From a quick free down the right-hand side, most in an attendance numbering 1,185 expected McNamee to whip the ball into the box.

Instead, the Ramelton man delightfully threaded in for Cawley and the Ballina man steered low past Stephen McGuinness for his second goal of the season.

The 32-year-old penned a deal with Harps in December having left Sligo Rovers, where he was the club captain.

In the game's final minute, McNamee coolly finished after being played in by sub Sean O'Donnell.

The win has Darren Murphy's Harps well poised on the coat tails of Cork, who were held to a 1-1 draw in Wexford earlier in the day.

A 3-2 win in Kerry at the end of February represented Bray's last victory, their only triumph before boarding the bus for Ballybofey.

Without a win in their previous five outings, Bray manager Ian Ryan made two changes to his side from the team that drew 2-2 with Cobh on Friday.

Evan Osam and Paul Murphy were brought in to bolster the Bray rearguard.

Murphy had a chance to open the scoring in the 25^th minute but, after jinking his way through from the right-hand side, his shot deflected out for a corner.

Bray began the better, but did little to trouble Tim Hiemer. In spite of being on top, a Harry Groome effort charged down by Ryan Rainey on the edge of the area was the best the visitors mustered until Murphy went close.

Rainey made his first start of the 2024 season, which had been blighted by an injury until now, while Luke O'Brien was also drafted into the the starting XI with Shane McMonagle and Stephen Doherty making way after a McNamee goal earned a valuable 1-0 win at Treaty on Good Friday.

Patrick Ferry headed over the top from close range late in the first half after a Noe Baba attempt was blocked when an O'Brien free caused some panic in the Bray area.

Cawley altered the afternoon's course to put Harps ahead as the side's parted for the interval.

On the hour, Cole Omorehiomwan headed over as Bray went in search of an equaliser, but chances were scarce at both ends in a cagey affair.

In the 77^th minute, Baba was denied on the line by 'keeper McGuinness, who was called into action by McNamee soon after.

With the clock ticking, Omorehiomwan had another chance, but his tame effort was routinely dealt with by Tim Hiemer and McNamee made the win safe in the dying moments.

Finn Harps: Tim Hiemer; Matthew Makinson, Noe Baba, Conor Tourish; Jamie Watson, Ryan Rainey (Darragh Coyle 70), David Cawley, Luke O'Brien (Shane McMonagle 70); Tony McNamee; Success Edogun (Sean O'Donnell 84), Patrick Ferry (Chris Lotefa 70).

Bray Wanderers: Stephen McGuinness; Paul Murphy (Thomas Morgan 67), Killiam Cantwell, Cole Omorehiomwan, Evan Osam (Rhys Knight 67); Conor Knight (Zach Nolan 67), Harry Groome. Freddie Turley, Kieran Cruise (Guillermo Almirall 89); Shane Griffin, Peter Grogan.

Referee: Daniel Murphy.