Finn Harps' play-off hopes evaporate completely against ten-men Wexford

Finn Harps' faint hopes of snatching a play-off spot have ended as a depleted Wexford came away from Ballybofey with a 3-1 victory on Monday night.

Having taken the lead through Jamie Watson, the home side was eventually pegged back and went in one down at the break as Cian O'Malley and Darragh Levingston both found the target for Wexford.

And while Harps pushed hard for a leveller for most of the second-half, Wexford made sure of matters eight minutes from time when substitute Mark Imiren stroked home from the penalty spot.

Harps had completely bossed the opening quarter of an hour against a Wexford side that travelled to the north west with their play-off berth already secured.

Because of that, the visitors made nine changes in total to the side that defeated Kerry FC 4-0 on Friday night.

And the breakthrough that looked so likely for Darren Murphy's side early on arrived on 23 minutes as Watson's superb strike from the right hand flank, outside the area, nestled low in the far corner of Alex Moody's net.

However, Harps' impressive tempo seemed to dip after that breakthrough and just six minutes later another full-back, O'Malley, squared matters with an equally impressive strike, again from right of centre and from a fair distance out.

Still, the hosts were boosted moments later when Jamie Crawford picked up a second booking for a pull back on Success Edogun and Wexford were down to ten men.

But a subdued Harps didn't spark and three minutes out from the break James Keddy's side went in front when Darragh Levingston let fly from the edge of the area to make it 2-1.

Seconds after the restart Harps almost got themselves back on level terms but Patrick Ferry's effort was well beaten away by Moody.

On 56 minutes the same player had another shot cleared off the line by Benjamin Lynch with Ferry going into the book after his remonstrating for a hand ball fell on deaf ears.

Harps continued to turn the screw and from the resulting corner, Patton's driven header was again stopped by the impressive Moody.

Ferry almost threaded Edogun through but that smart attempt was cut out while a McNamee freekick came off an outstretched Wexford leg and went just the wrong side of the post.

Opportunities continued to fall Harps' way and on 65 minutes Edogun was inches away from levelling it up when his low rasper went just wide.

The home centre forward then went down inside the area but Daryl Carolan wasn't interested. 

But the man in the middle didn't have to think too hard up the other end when Watson's rash lunge on substitute Mark Imiren gifted wrapped Wexford's third of the night.

From the resulting penalty, Curtis casually stroked down the middle as Cooney guessed to his right.

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Harps now weclome Treaty United to Finn Park on Friday night but that counts for little or nothing as a disappointing curtain drops on their League of Ireland First Divison campaign.

Finn Harps: Oisin Cooney; Conor Tourish (Bruce Strachan, 81), Matthew Makinson (Gavin McAteer, ht), Luke O'Brien; Jamie Watson, Tony McNamee (Max Johnston, 71), Ryan Rainey (David Cawley, ht), Patrick Ferry; Sean Patton (Gavin Gilmore, 71); Success Edogun.

Wexford: Alex Moody; Darragh Levingston (Luke Lovic, 71), Cian O'Malley, Benjamin Lynch, Adam Lennon (Robbie O'Toole, 79); Mark Hanratty (Sean McHale, 60), Conor Crowley (Kian Corbally, 71), Kaylem Harnett (Mark Imiren, 79), James Crawford; Reece Webb, Cian Curtis.

Referee: Daryl Carolan