Finn Harps 1 UCD 0: Finn Harps recorded their first win of the Premier Division campaign by beating UCD at Finn Park on Saturday night, a result manager Felix Healy believes can kick-start their season in earnest.
With Shamrock Rovers having had eight points deducted, Harps are now second bottom and four points ahead of the troubled "Hoops".
Kevin McHugh, Harps' leading scorer for the past four seasons when they were in the First Division, finally got his name on the scoresheet as he registered what proved to be the winning goal after just four minutes.
He pounced on a defensive error by Conor Kenna to surge into the box and slip the ball under Darren Quigley. But inside the first minute UCD could have gone ahead after a Tony McDonnell header came off the post.
Harps had the better clear-cut chances in a game that swung from end to end and twice Chris Breen was through with only Quigley to beat but failed to find the target.
However, in the first half, a dreadful mix-up between Harps goalkeeper Gavin Cullen and Jonathan Minnock presented Pat McWalter with a great chance but he blazed over.
And Harps had to endure a late surge of pressure as Cullen made fine saves to deny Robert Martin, Damien Dupuy and Gary Dicker.
FINN HARPS: Cullen; Rossiter, Minnock, Boyle, Asokuh, Funston, Bonner, McGrenaghan, Breen, McHugh, Gorman. Subs: Crossan for Bonner (68 mins).
UCD: Quigley; Lynch, O'Donnell, Kenna, McNally, McDonnell, Anthony Murphy, Hurley, Martin, Dupuy, McWalter. Subs: Byrne and Dickers for Anthony Murphy and McDonnell (71 mins), Adrian Murphy for Dupuy (79 mins).
Referee: D Hancock (Dublin).
