Frustration again at home for Finn Harps as Athlone Town grab first win in nine

Finn Harps fell to a disappointing defeat on Friday night as Athlone Town left Ballybofey with their first win in nine games.

Ben Feeney and Gideon Tetteh struck goals in either half to end a sorry sequence of eight outings without a win.

For what was a much-changed Harps here, it was a third defeat in a row and a second home loss in succession.

The goal frame rescued Athlone when Gradi Lomboto let fly with the visitors leading 1-0 and within minutes Tetteh netted the 73rd minute second that made the win safe for Athlone.

Harps manager Kevin McHugh rang the changes with five switches to his side following a 2-0 home loss at the hands of Treaty United a week earlier.

Republic of Ireland U19 International Oisin Cooney started in goal, his first senior appearance since the end of February with David Aziaya said to be injured.

Aaron McLaughlin made his first start of the season with Mikey Place, David Cawley and Dara McGuinness also elevated in a major reshuffle.

Harps almost sneaked in front in the early exchanges, but McGuinness, having connected with Tony McNamee’s corner, saw his effort at the front post deflected wide off an Athlone defender.

Disaster struck for Harps in the seventh minute. Kailin Barlow whipped in an inviting cross from the right-hand side. Feeney got in between a pair of Harps defenders to head home from 10 yards.

Harps attempted an instant riposte, but Place drove wide from the edge of the area.

The hosts had a glorious chance to draw level two minutes later. McGuinness created the opening via a mazy run on the left-hand side. His cut-back, though, was fired up and over by Gavin Hodgins.

Teenage defender Josh Cullen produced a defence stop by Matthew Connor on the half-hour.

Cullen had to be withdrawn, injured, before half-time while Harps also saw Dara McGuinness forced off in the opening period, adding to Harps’ injury woe with defender Conor Tourish facing a spell on the sidelines that will extend until after the mid-season break.

The exit of McGuinness saw Gavin McAteer - who spent four days on trial at Celtic earlier in the week - come into the action. 

Harps began the second half brightly with McLaughlin firing wide at the near post before a McNamee free kick was held by Connor.

Gradi Lomboto - who along with Tourish signed a new deal at the club to keep them at Finn Park until the end of the 2026 season - saw a stinging effort blocked after he connected to Kevin Jordan’s inviting pass.

Harps were closer still when Hodgins rattled the Town End timber work from 20 yards in the 66th minute.

Athlone - who included former Harps fans’ favourite Noe Baba in their XI - came to Ballybofey in something of a quandary and bottom of the pile in the First Division. Manageress following the departure of Dário Castelo last month, the interim management team of Danny Byrne, Declan Holohan and Robbie Rock continued, while the club is also awaiting possible new investors to strike a deal.

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The journey back to the midlands will have been shortened somewhat with victory, though. Tetteh sealed the three points - Athlone’s first win since March - when he found the bottom corner from the edge of the area.

The 972 attendance soon filed out in frustration as Daryl Carolan, the referee, called full time with the table now having four teams - Harps, Athlone, Kerry and Longford - joint bottom and separated only by goal difference. 

Finn Harps: Oisin Cooney; Mikey Place, Max Hutchison, Josh Cullen (Kevin Jordan 43), Joel Thompson; David Cawley (Patrick Ferry 66), Tony McNamee; Gradi Lomboto, Aaron McLaughlin, Gavin Hodgins; Dara McGuinness (Gavin McAteer 31).

Athlone Town: Matthew Connor; Cole Omorehiomwan, Dylan Hand, German Fuentes, Brian Torre (Kyle O’Connor 74); Daniel McKenna (John Ross Wilson 74), Noe Baba; Kailin Barlow Aaron Connolly (Declan McDaid 64); Gideon Tetteh (Matthew Leal 90); Ben Feeney (Kyle Robinson 74).

Referee: Daryl Carolan.