MAYBE it was the weather – but Finn Harps were definitely under the weather as they crashed to a 4-0 away defeat on Friday night at Mervue United.
The temperature at Fahy’s Field was still in the high 20s by kick-off, and the referee was to rightly allow water breaks through the game.
But the weather was to be the only treat for the Harps fans.
Kevin McHugh forced a good save after 15 minutes from the United keeper Connor Gleeson.
But it was the home side which took the lead four minutes later.
Harps midfielder Mark Forker was adjudged to have fouled Noel Varley on the edge of the Harps box, and Jason Molloy curley the resultant free kick into the top corner.
Forker tried to make up for his error on the 34th minute as he fired in a low shot that looked bound for the equaliser, but Gleeson pulled off another fine save.
At the other end Ciaran Gallagher pulled off a stunning save just before the break to leave it 1-0 to the home side at half-time.
Within six minutes of the re-start Mervue extended their lead with a scrappy goal as Mike Duffy bundled the ball over the line and Harps night got much worse in the 59th minute when Marc Ludden’s stunning strike from distance found the back of the Harps’ net.
Paul McVeigh had the chance to pull a goal back shortly afterwards when in on the keeper but Gleeson saved again.
And in the 78th minute Ryan Manning added a stunning fourth home goal from the edge of the box.