WAYSIDE CELTIC proved that last year's Cup success was no fluke when they out played Finn Harps in the first round of the FAI Harp Lager Cup at the Carlisle Grounds yesterday. The Leinster Senior League side reached the quarterfinals last year and could do even better this time, judging by this performance.

Wayside were bitterly disappointed when they were not allowed to play this game at their home ground in the Golden Ball, Kilternan, but they let, their football do the talking.

However, one would not have envisaged this result in the first half as it was the visitors who made all the early running. The Premier Division outfit took the lead as early as the sixth minute when David Dowling headed home a John Quigg cross. Dowling could have added a second on 40 minutes, Wayside captain Matt Grimes clearing his effort off the line.

The Leinster League outfit were given a lifeline - on the stroke of half time when Harps goalkeeper David Platt dropped the ball under pressure from Wayside's Derek Verhaven. A hectic scrambled ensued and Wayside's Stephen Martin, later named man of the match, reacted quickest of all to stab the loose ball in. Harps felt that Platt was fouled, but Dublin referee Paul McKeown had no doubts that it was a legitimate goal.

The Kilternan side were a transformed unit after the interval, playing some marvellous football and toying with the opposition at time. Paul Masterson should have put them ahead on 56 minutes, when he blazed wide of an open goal. But that was only a temporary reprieve for the Donegal man and Celtic deservedly took the lead on the hour.

Martin unhinged the visitors defence with a great throughball and Paddy Geraghty found the net with a low drive from 15 yards. In truth it could have been many more after that as Platt made two exceptional saves from Gerry Hayden and Geraghty.

Finn Harps never looked like getting an equaliser, despite making three substitutions in the second half. Indeed, Wayside Celtic goalkeeper, Derek Masterson did not have a single save to make after the interval.

A delighted Wayside manager, Peter Lennon, said afterwards: "I thought we thoroughly deserved it and it could have been a lot more in the end. We didn't start too well, but once we got the equaliser there was only one team in it."