Finn Harps 0-2 Mervue United 

A third win on the bounce was registered in Finn Park as a goal in either half claimed all three points following a 2-0 win over Finn Harps on Friday night in the Airtricity First Division.

Jason Molloy and Ryan Manning scored a goal in each period to keep Mervue United's play-off hopes alive as they were recording only a second ever win in Ballybofey  and a first since May 2010.

The home side made six changes to their side following an FAI Cup replay defeat on Monday night to Drogheda Utd, while Johnny Glynn made just one change as Stephen Walsh came in for the suspended Marc Ludden at left back.

The visitors got off to a perfect start as they took the lead with only five minutes on the clock. Jason Molloy cut in from the left of the penalty box before unleashing a right-footed effort which took a deflection of the head of Keith Cowan as the ball flew past home keeper Ciaran Gallagher.

Ryan Manning almost made it 2-0 on 10 minutes but his well struck effort was always rising too high. Harps Paul McVeigh then forced a fine one-handed save from Conor O'Malley two minutes later.

It was four minutes before the break before another chance arose when Gary Shanahan did well cutting the ball back to Tom King but his effort was also too high as it cleared Gallagher's crossbar as the visitors headed into the break one up.

Mervue past up a glorious chance of doubling their lead just after the hour mark when Tom King's right wing cross picked out Michael Duffy but the striker couldn't keep his shot down from in front of the goals and another chance cleared Gallagher's crossbar.

The home side could have drawn level when Lee Toland flashed a corner right across the face of O'Malley's goal, but there was no Harps player on hand to apply the finish after 66 minutes.

Manning almost doubled the lead on 70 minutes as he did well running past a static Harps backline but his well executed lob of Gallagher clipped the top of the home crossbar, but four minutes later the home goal wasn't so lucky.

Molloy delivered a low corner to the edge of the box and Manning applied the perfect finish past Gallagher as he registered his ninth league goal of the season to guarantee the points for Johnny Glynn's side.

Harps sub Micheál Doherty should have gained a late consolation goal but he headed badly over from a great position at the far post, while Keith Cowan made a fine block to deny Shanahan a third goal after Manning had set him up for the chance.

The win has closed the gap to just one point on Longford, who play Cobh this evening, and sets up a big game at Fahy's Field next Friday night as the midlanders are the visitors with three games remaining.

Mervue United: Conor O'Malley; Tom King, Martin Connelly, Paul Sinnott, Stephen Walshe, Gary Shanahan, Barry O'Mahony, Gary Curran (Noel Varley 84), Jason Molloy; Ryan Manning, Michael Duffy (Joe Woods 75).

Referee: Conor Fitzgerald.

Attendance: 200 (estimate)