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A first-half double from Alexander Kogler led Finn Harps to the FAI Extra.ie Cup quarter-finals, as Ollie Horgan’s team had too much for First Division Bray Wanderers, who finished with ten men, in the Carlisle Grounds.
In a replay of their final marathon in 1999, it was the Premier Division Harps fighters who started on the front foot, creating a real shot in less than two minutes.
Mark Russell’s cross from the left was greeted by Adrian Delap, the scorer scoring his final goal at Waterford last week, whose first volley didn’t go too far over Brian Maher’s crossbar.
An error by Sam Todd at the other end just a minute later gave Bray a half chance.
Gary Shaw stepped forward to work the ball into his left foot, but failed to put any real poison in his shot, which Mark McGinley handled comfortably.
Bray came into the game with three clean sheets.
But a negligent defense made them concede a really soft goal in the 12th minute.
Harps captain Dave Webster’s long shot into Bray’s area was not attacked by the home defense.
The ball was allowed to bounce off his goal face to the far post, where Austrian forward Kogler lurked to head home from just two meters.
The visitors’ lead seemed comfortable until the middle of the half, when McGinley had to come to their rescue with a pair of clever saves.
Wanderers winger Callum Thompson finished a maze-like dribble to punch a low shot that McGinley parried.
Moments later, Harps’ keeper got down well to hold off a shot from Luka Lovic that had turned sweetly into the area.
Having apparently played his way back into the game, Bray conceded another poor goal in the 32nd minute.
Dylan Barnett gifted the ball to Barry McNamee in Harps’ midfield. He fed Russell, who in turn put the ball towards Delap.
The center was whipped to the near post where Kogler was again unmarked to score with a well placed header.
The game was almost ready for Bray when veteran midfielder Paul Keegan, who won the cup with Drogheda United in 2005, received a direct red card within four minutes of the second half.
The 36-year-old, upset that he had not received a free kick seconds earlier, lunged at Russell in the middle of the park and gave referee Rob Hennessy one more small option but to send him off.
Bray wanderers: Brian Maher; John Ross Wilson, Kilian Cantwell, Aaron Barry (Darragh Lynch 67), Dylan Barnett; Callum Thompson, Luka Lovic (Jack Watson 79), Sean McEvoy, Ryan Graydon (Derek Daly 67); Joe Doyle (Paul Keegan 14); Gary Shaw (Marlon Marista 79).
Find harps: Mark McGinley; Dave Webster, Sadiki from Kosovo, Stephen Folan, Sam Todd; Adrian Delap, Mark Coyle (Gareth Harkin 90 + 3), Barry McNamee (Tony McNamee 86), Mark Russell (Raff Cretaro 83); Ryan Connolly; Alexander Kogler (Adam Foley 83).
Referee: Rob Hennessy (Clare).
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