Finn Harps 0, Galway United 2

The long trip north turned out to be quite a profitable one for Galway United as a first-half John Russell strike and an injury-time Jay O'Shea goal made it two consecutive wins on the road over relegation rivals in Ballybofey on Friday.

United threw their two new signings straight into the action, as Iarflaith Davoren and Jesper Jorgensen replaced Ollie Fenn and Vinny Faherty.

United had to wait until the 38th minute before their deserved opener, and on his return from injury lay-off, it was Russell who popped up to score.

O'Shea's corner was only headed clear to player-manager Jeff Kenna, who immediately passed back to O'Shea. After instantly controlling the ball, he drilled into the near post, where the grateful Russell slid-in and toe-poked home.

The Tribesmen had to wait until second-half injury time before securing the deserved win, and man-of-the-match O'Shea clinched the three points.

Right-back Seamus Conneely fed reserve Jason Molloy with a quickly taken free-kick as he hit the penalty area with his run. Molloy shot first-time but a combination of James Gallagher and Mark Mukendi half cleared the ball straight to the onrushing O'Shea, who drilled home from 12 yards. Indeed it was no surprise that O'Shea who came closest to breaking the deadlock after only seven minutes as from the off he hounded marker shaun Holmes.

Jonathan Minnock's headed clearance fell to O'Shea 30 yards from goal. With the keeper in no-man's-land the former Bray man volleyed towards goal, but agonizingly his shot came of the angle of post and crossbar and bounced to safety.

Harps came close to scoring in the opening period, though Gary Rogers, on his return, palmed Michael Funston's dipping 30-yard effort out for a corner. Rogers again came to United's rescue on 73 minutes as he somehow kept out reserve Marc Brolly's diving-header from point-blank range with Kenna completing the clearance.

United held out with ease and O'Shea's assured injury-time strike was the icing on the cake, capping off a fine away performance, and pushing Finn Harps further into the relegation mire, and United another step closer to safety.

Finn Harps: Gallagher; Mukendi, Minnock, Malcolm, Holmes; McCafferty, Funston, McGowan, Tyrell (Brolly 45); Friel (Breen 64), Gethins.

Galway United: Rogers, Conneely, Kenna, Lester, McCulloch; O'Shea, Russell, Murphy, Daveron (Foley 82); Glynn (Molloy 72), Jorgensen (Faherty 90).

Referee: Declan Hanney (Dublin).

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