Sean O'Donnell fires Finn Harps to victory over Wexford

Sean O'Donnell scored the only goal of the game as Finn Harps saw off a game Wexford at Finn Park on Friday night.

The Carndonagh man struck his second goal of the season to put Darren Murphy's Harps back to winning ways.

In the first of a Bank Holiday double-header at Finn Park, O'Donnell proved the match winner.

Harps were unable to add to O'Donnell's volley, but the Donegal side were able to prevent Wexford from drawing level. For the first time since the opening game of the season in mid-February, Wexford were held scoreless.

O'Donnell opened the scoring in the 18^th minute.

Captain Tony McNamee, back in the side having had to skip the 2-0 reversal at Kerry as he got married to his partner Sarah Long last weekend, provided the assist.

McNamee's long throw-in from the stand side made its way to O'Donnell at the far post and the 20-year-old volleyed home past Owen Mason.

The goal came just a minute after O'Donnell was fed on the break by David Cawley. While that effort beat Mason, the ball was creeping wide before Cian O'Malley hooked away.

In the Finnside sun, Harps had a couple of bright moments in the early exchanges.

McNamee saw a volley blocked from the edge of the D before Max Johnston had sight of the target only for a lack of power in his effort to keep the stalemate intact.

McNamee returned to the starting XI while Murphy was also able to recall David Cawley and Matthew Makinson.

Sickness ruled Ryan Rainey out of contention with Patrick Ferry and Shane McMonagle dropping to the bench.

Wexford had lost just once in their previous seven outings – a 2-1 loss to Bray last weekend - but James Keddy's side were a little late arriving in Ballybofey, their bus pulling up at around 7pm. Initial soundings that the kick-off might be pushed back proved unfounded.

Wexford, with former Harps captain Etham Boyle among their lot, were level on points with Harps before making the trip to the North West.

The Ferrycarrig men should have been level in the 31^st minute. Somehow, though, Benjamin Lynch got his coordinates mixed up from mere yards in front of the Town End goal.

O'Donnell saw a powerful volley deflected wide before Success Edogun saw a 20-yard attempt blocked down as Harps went in search of doubling their advantage.

Eight minutes into the second half, Harps fashioned another chance on a breakaway teed up by quick-thinking 'keeper Conor Walsh.

Stephen Doherty's probing ball in was met by Jamie Watson and, momentarily, his header looked like it might creep in, but Mason intervened.

Thoms Oluwa's close-range header clipped a Harps post just shy of the hour mark while Walsh turned away a header from Aaron Dobbs five minutes later.

In the final minute, Dobbs tried his luck again, but his shot from 12 yards lacked the conviction to really trouble Walsh.

Finn Harps: Conor Walsh; Jamie Watson, Matthew Makinson, Noe Baba, Luke O'Brien; David Cawley, Stephen Doherty; Success Edogun (Patrick Ferry 90+4), Tony McNamee, Sean O'Donnell; Max Johnston.

Wexford FC: Owen Mason; Carl Lennox (Mark Hanratty h-t), Cian O'Malley, Sean McHale; Mikie Rowe (Cian Curtis 83), Reece Webb (Darragh Levingston 73), Ethan Boyle, Brandon McCann (Kaylem Harnett h-t), Benjamin Lynch; Aaron Dobbs, Thomas Oluwa.

Referee: Aaron O'Dowd.