First Division: Finn Harps and Cobh Ramblers share the spoils

RTÉ News​

25-07-2025

Barry Coffey scored twice and Cobh Ramblers led twice in Ballybofey but battling Finn Harps earned a share of the spoils.
Cobh Ramblers are now six points behind leaders Dundalk at the top of the First Division after being held at Finn Park.
Coffey took his goals tally for the season to 17 for the season, but it wasn't enough to take Mick McDermott's men to victory.
Cobh took the lead in the 20th minute when Coffey stroked home from the penalty spot.
Referee Aaron O'Dowd pointed to the spot when Gradi Lomboto barged over Bellis just inside the penalty area. Coffey made no mistake in tucking past Corey Sheridan, the Harps goalkeeper.
Sheridan had to be at his best in the 34th minute to turn Cian Bargary's effort out for a corner. Sheridan, who had five clean sheets from his previous six outings, reached out to his right to make a fine stop.
Harps drew level in the 38th minute as Mpongo seized on a loose ball before taking on Shane Griffin and firing off the crossbar to beat Timothy Martin.
Mpongo, a recent recruit fromRijnvogels in the fourth tier in the Netherlands, netted a debut goal against UCD last week.
After Idir Zerrouk helped win the ball, the 22-year-old Dutch hitman repeated the trick here with a superb goal.
Harps' joy was short-lived as Cobh restored the lead within a minute. Bargary's inviting cross was met by Coffey and his header found the Town End net.
On the stroke of half-time, Conor Tourish fired to the net for Harps, but an offside flag with the margins thin cut short the celebrations.
However, Harps equalised a second time on 65 minutes when McNamee side-footed Idir Zerrouk's cut-back past Martin.
The sides swapped chances soon after with Sheridan clawing off the line from Shane Griffin before Lomboto riffled wide from a good position for Harps.
Teenager Gavin McAteer, who has attracted attention from Nottingham Forest and Celtic among others, came off the bench and might have won the game for Harps, but Martin saved from his attempt three minutes from the end.
Cobh could have sneaked it with the last effort of the night, but Luka Le Bervet soared high over the crossbar.
Finn Harps: Corey Sheridan; Josh Cullen, Conor Tourish, Joel Bradley-Walsh, Kieran Cooney; Max Hutchison, Oran Brogan (Gavin McAteer 82); Gradi Lomboto, Tony McNamee, Idir Zerrouk; Hans Mpongo.
Cobh Ramblers: Timothy Martin; Jonas Hakkinen, Shane Griffin, Cian Coleman, Luka De Bervet. Niall O'Keefe; Cian Bargary, Barry Coffey, Shane Griffin (Rhys Gourdie 74), Samuel Bellis (Matthew Whelan 79); Cian Murphy.