First Division: Waterford stroll past off-key Finn Harps

A Ronan Coughlan brace eased Waterford to a routine win in Ballybofey over Finn Harps, who suffered a fourth successive defeat.

Connor Parsons and Dean McMenamy were also on target for Waterford, with Harps having defender Daithi McCallion sent off in the second half.

In March, Waterford put seven past Harps at the RSC and the scoreline here could have matched that were it not for a couple of big saves from home goalkeeper Tim Hiemer and a few spurned chances from the visitors.

While the evening unravelled for Harps after McCallion's dismissal in the 57th minute, Waterford were already well on their way to maximum points by that point.

Waterford - who recently added Alan Reynolds to the backroom staff as assistant head coach after a spell at Derry City - took the lead in the 25th minute. Hiemer saved superbly from April Player of the Month Coughlan but, with Parsons ready to pounce, Porter's attempted intervention saw the Harps defender put through his own goal.

Five minutes later, Waterford doubled their lead. Coughlan got too much time inside the area and the former Sligo Rovers and St Patrick's Athletic attacker delightfully curled beyond Hiemer to the bottom corner.

Earlier, Barry Baggley was inches from opening the scoring but his strike from distance rattled the underside of the crossbar before landing in the hands of the grateful Hiemer. It was one of those instances where, in the sport's more loftier stages, the opinion of VAR may well have been called for.

After the ever-lively Ryan Flood forced Paul Martin into a save following a good move down the right-hand side, Shane McMonagle was unable to get enough purchase when captain Keith Cowan recycled a set piece out on the left.

Waterford's quick-fire goals rocked Harps