REPORT: Finn Harps 2-0 Drogheda United (2-1 agg) - Harps secure Premier Division status

Finn Harps secured their SSE Airtricity League Premier Division status after a play-off final victory over Drogheda United. 

Drogheda came into the second leg with a narrow 1-0 lead thanks to Chris Lyons' 90th-minute strike in the first leg on Monday. 

Harps, backed by a 2,113 crowd at Ballybofey, started the game on the front foot and took the lead on the night within the first 10 minutes of the match. 

A well-worked corner routine, saw a clipped ball to the back-post after a short corner and Mark Russell was there to head home to draw level on aggregate. 

Harps continued their dominance in the first 30 minutes with Drogheda pressed back, struggling to create any notable chances as Ruairi Harkin's corner towards the back-post was almost touched home to double the lead. 

After the break, Drogheda fashioned their first real chance of the game in the 50th minute. It was a neat move down the left before they switched play to find the cross for James Brown but his effort was well blocked. 

Three minutes later, Luke Heeney should have pulled level on the night and ahead on aggregate, as Sean Brennan worked the ball back to the edge of the box but Heeney's shot went over the bar. 

In the final minute of the game, Drogheda almost scored what would have been a winner over the two legs as Mark Doyle broke down the right, found a low cross but the keeper intercepted before Chris Lyons could pounce. 

After a goalless first-half of extra-time, Harps scored the winning goal over the two legs to the delight of the Harps crowd. In the 107th minute, a Harps corner saw Harry Ascroft score and therefore, secure their Premier Division status. 

Drogheda United will stay in the SSE Airtricity League First Division despite their fantastic First Division and play-off campaign, cruel on Tim Clancy's side.