FINN HARPS and Home Farm-Everton gained ground as the top two in the First Division, Bray Wanderers and Cobb Ramblers, played out a drab scoreless draw at the Carlisle Grounds yesterday, the third such result between the sides this season.
Fourth placed HF-Everton, who beat Longford yesterday, and Harps' 7-0 defeat of Monaghan on Saturday night, means both gain two points on Cobh as the second promotion spot and playoff place are fought out between those three, while Bray, who maintain their eleven points lead, are almost certain to be promoted as champions.
Cobb had the better of the first-half at the Carlisle Grounds yesterday thanks largely to a strong wind at their backs. But chances were nonetheless at a premium. Ramblers did get the ball in the Bray net on 32 minutes but Willie O'Keeffe was ruled offside as he headed home the rebound off Pat Trehy from Packie Kelly's long range shot.
Bray were below par, as their manager Pat Devlin agreed afterwards, and never seemed capable of scoring in a second-half they virtually dominated, against a Cobb side missing both their central defenders, Phil Long and Jason Lynch.
Bray's Robbie Coyle did hit the outside of a post four minutes from time, but that was the closest they came to breaking the deadlock in a generally tedious game.
A Roddy Collins goal ten minutes into the second-half gave Home Farm the narrowest of wins over second from bottom Longford at Whitehall. Collins shot home from close range after player/manager Martin Bayly laid the ball off to him following a Derek Murray corner.
Limerick's Anthony Tobin was sent-off for a second bookable offence five minutes from time at Hogan Park as Limerick beat St. James's Gate 2-0 in a mid-table clash. Paul Carr gave Limerick a 32 minute lead; Tobin and Noel King then combined for Howard King to make it 2-0 twelve minutes into the second-half.
Dermot Keely got his tenure as manager of promotion chasing Finn Harps off to a scintillating start with a 7-0 drubbing of whipping boys Monaghan United at Ballybofey on Saturday night.
Monaghan. without a manager following Billy Bagster's resignation on Wednesday night, were down and out by half-time as Alan Doherty, Paddy McGranaghan and the division's topscorer, Jonathan Speake. beat hapless Brian McKenna to give Harps a 3-0 interval lead.
Ian Douglas, with two goals, a second from McGranaghan and a stunning free-kick from John-Gerard McGettigan piled on the agony for Monaghan in the second-half.
