Cobh Ramblers record crucial win over Finn Harps in race for playoff spot

Goals from Liam Kervick and Bosnjak earned Ramblers the three points at St Colman's Park.

HEADING UP: Cobh Ramblers' Nolan Evers and Finn Harps' Patrick Ferry, compete in the air during their SSE Airtricity League First Division clash, at St Colman's Park.

League Of Ireland First Division: Cobh Ramblers 2 Finn Harps 0

In this clash between two sides with strong playoff aspirations, it was Cobh Ramblers who recorded a crucial victory over Finn Harps ahead of a crunch local derby next week against Cork City.

Ramblers went close to scoring in the opening stages when Bosnjak forced a save out of Harps goalkeeper Conor Walsh.

Harps threatened shortly afterwards when the lively Success Edogun forced a save out of Cobh goalkeeper Darragh Burke.

The home side then went close when a curling strike from Liam Kervick went just over the bar.

Midway through the first half Harps had a great opportunity when David Cawley picked out Patrick Ferry, who misfired from an excellent position inside the penalty area.

Ramblers went into the lead with 31 minutes played on the clock. From a Dean Larkin long ball forward, Liam Kervick controlled well before finishing neatly to the corner of the net.

The visitors almost equalised early into the second half but Edogun saw his strike gathered well by Cobh netminder Burke.

Harps had a strong spell of pressure as the game reached the hour mark, with an Edogun cross headed wide by Ferry.

With the game approaching the final quarter of an hour, the exchanges were end-to-end. Tiernan O’Brien saw his shot blocked down impressively by the Harps defence, while Cawley threatened with a shot at the opposite end.

On 78 minutes, Cobh threatened to double their lead when a great Nolan Evers strike went wide of the target.

Dale Holland almost capped off a fine individual performance for Cobh in the last minute of normal time when his shot forced a good save from Walsh.

Ramblers sealed the win in second half stoppage time, when Bosnjak showed great footwork and finished neatly to the bottom corner.

COBH RAMBLERS: D Burke; J Eguaibor, D Larkin, J Larkin, N Evers, L Kervick (D Eguaibor, 85), D Bosnjak (A Desanctis, 90+4) D Holland, T O’Brien(G Towler, 88) , L Le Bervet, J Abbott.

FINN HARPS: C Walsh; J Watson, M Makinson, N Baba, P Ferry, S Edogun, R Rainey (S O’Donnell, 71), L O’Brien, S Doherty (M Johnston, 58) , D Cawley (A McLaughlin, 78) , T McNamee.

Referee: Mark Moynihan.