Finn Harps end a goal drought as Tony McNamee lights up for winner against Treaty
Tony McNamee fired in the only goal of the game as Finn Harps defeated Treaty United at Finn Park with Darren Murphy's side third in the First Division standings
Tony McNamee lit up Finn Park to fire Finn Harps back to winning ways.
The Harps captain netted the only goal in a game of low quality in the 80th minute to give Harps victory over Treaty United.
McNamee's goal – his fourth of the season – stopped a mini rot for Harps with this their first win in four.
Earlier in the season, the Ramelton man also grabbed a late winner against Treaty at Markets Field and his strike here stretches Treaty's win-less League run to nine games.
The winner was out of the route one play book: Goalkeeper Tim Hiemer punted long and Sean O'Donnell flicked into the path of McNamee.
The 30-year-old was the picture of cool as he delightfully slipped the ball into the bottom corner - sealing a win that puts Harps third in the First Division standings.
The goal ended something of a goal drought for Harps of late.
The floodlight system failure at Finn Park that forced a kick-off time change to recent home games against UCD and Cork City was rectified in the lead-up to this game. Although some bulbs remained in the black, the issue was sufficiently resolved to allow Harps return to their regular 7.45pm kick-off.
After three successive defeats, Harps rang the changes. Glenmaquin teenager Max Johnston was drafted in for his first Harps start. Johnston, whose cumulative total of first-team minutes this season was at 40, was into the XI in place of Sean O'Donnell.
Harps also brought Mark Mbuli, another teenager, into the starting line-up while experienced midfielder David Cawley returned from injury with Patrick Ferry and Shane McMonagle dropping out.
Half-an-hour in and with a running touchline tête-à-tête between Murphy and Barrett a rare noteworthy occurrence, Harps fashioned a second opening.
Mbuli made the initial break down the left and, after Johnston's shot was blocked, Cawley saw his low follow-up, which momentarily looked bound for the bottom corner, deflected wide.
Noe Baba let fly in the 62nd minute, but a firmly-struck first-time effort from 20 yards was well held by Chambers.
Tommy Barrett's Treaty began 2024 like an express train, winning the opening three games of the season, before they were derailed somewhat thereafter. Treaty arrived in Ballybofey having taken only three draws from the previous eight outings.
Barrett made just one change from the side that lost to UCD as Alec Byrne came in to replace Leon Kirrane.
Success Edogun, who netted seven times for the Shannonsiders last season, was denied by a brave block by a Treaty defender, before Matthew Makinson prodded wide at close range with Harps starting to turn the screw.
As the game entered its final ten minutes, McNamee popped up with the goods.
Finn Harps: Tim Hiemer; Jamie Watson, Noe Baba, Matthew Makinson, Luke O'Brien; David Cawley (Darragh Coyle 85), Tony McNamee; Success Edogun (Patrick Ferry 88), Ryan Rainey, Mark Mbuli (Sean O'Donnell 65); Max Johnston.
Treaty United: Corey Chambers; Robbie Lynch (Evan O'Connor 74), Ben O'Riordan, Mark Walsh, Oisin O'Reilly; Lee Devitt, Scott Kirkland (Richkov Boevi 89); Alec Byrne, Stephen Christopher, Mark Byrne (Nikodem Kozlowski 89); Thomas Considine.
Referee: Oliver Moran.