Finn Harps 1 - 1 Shelbourne
Credit:
Shelbourne's march to First Division glory took a knock tonight in Ballybofey, when they came up against a young spirited side in Finn Harps.
Harps almost had the dream start when in the eighth minute it needed a last ditched header off the goal line by Steven Quigley to save the Reds blushes. Shels appeared tired in the first half, and only for the excellence of Dean Delaney, who saved a 30 yard shot from Harps Michael Funston, could have seen themselves a goal down. Shels struggled to contain the Harps attacks; however Baker and McGill both had chances to break the dead lock in the Reds' favour. A half an hour into the game, Ciaran Coll was in the right place to head a goal bound attempt off the line. Two minutes later Stephen McLaughlin had an excellent volley tipped around the post by the Shels' keeper. Shels had the ball in the Harps net shortly before, only for Dave Cassidy to be called back for offside.
The Reds made one change at half time, taking off top scorer Anto Flood and replacing him with Tony Griffiths a recent signing from Crumlin United. Harps had a shout for handball in the penalty box in the 47th minute but the referee quite rightly waved play on. In the 55th minute Shels made another change taking off Mark O'Brien and bringing on Derek Doyle. After 57 minutes Peter Hynes missed with a header following a Crawley corner.
The cards continued to flow from the referee this time to Michael Funston for a tackle from behind when red seemed the appropriate card. The first goal of the game arrived on the 72nd minute following a wonderful strike from Derek Doyle which crashed off the crossbar and bounced on the line only for Peter Hynes to bundle ball over the line, as the Harps net minder lunged towards the loose ball. Shortly after Derek Doyle could and should have killed the game when one on one with the Harps keeper only for his shot to be saved by Cairan Gallagher. Harps made two changes in the 78th minute with Nick Forker and Gary Whoriskey coming off to be replaced by Mark Moran and Caolan Kelly. Shortly after, David Cassidy struck a wonderful volley off the crossbar.
The biggest talking point of the game came in the 85th minute when a Harps player recieved a head injury. The referee played on as the Harps physio entered the field of play with the match continuing. The ball eventually went out of play for a throw in. This seemed to incense the Harps bench and following this Harps manager James Gallagher was sent to the stand. Harps continued to push for the equaliser and in the 88th minute where rewarded with a penalty following jostling in the area and captain Damien Brennan being penalised. Funston happily scored from the spot.
Finn Harps; Ciaran Gallagher, James Doherty, Ciaran Coll, Seamus Sharkey, Packie Mailey, Michael Funston, Christy Conaghan, Shaun McGowan, Stephen McLaughlin, Mark Forker, Gary Whoriskey
Subs: Mark Moran, Caolan Kelly, Paddy Doherty, Michael Carroll, Liam Mailey.
Shels Team: Dean Delaney, Stephen Quigley, David Crawley, Robbie Hedderman, Damien Brennan, Mark O'Brien, Dave McGill, David Cassidy, Peter Hynes, Anthony Flood, Richie Baker
Subs: Tony Griffiths, Derek Doyle, Colin O'Brien, Michael Synnott, Vinny Whelan.
Harps almost had the dream start when in the eighth minute it needed a last ditched header off the goal line by Steven Quigley to save the Reds blushes. Shels appeared tired in the first half, and only for the excellence of Dean Delaney, who saved a 30 yard shot from Harps Michael Funston, could have seen themselves a goal down. Shels struggled to contain the Harps attacks; however Baker and McGill both had chances to break the dead lock in the Reds' favour. A half an hour into the game, Ciaran Coll was in the right place to head a goal bound attempt off the line. Two minutes later Stephen McLaughlin had an excellent volley tipped around the post by the Shels' keeper. Shels had the ball in the Harps net shortly before, only for Dave Cassidy to be called back for offside.
The Reds made one change at half time, taking off top scorer Anto Flood and replacing him with Tony Griffiths a recent signing from Crumlin United. Harps had a shout for handball in the penalty box in the 47th minute but the referee quite rightly waved play on. In the 55th minute Shels made another change taking off Mark O'Brien and bringing on Derek Doyle. After 57 minutes Peter Hynes missed with a header following a Crawley corner.
The cards continued to flow from the referee this time to Michael Funston for a tackle from behind when red seemed the appropriate card. The first goal of the game arrived on the 72nd minute following a wonderful strike from Derek Doyle which crashed off the crossbar and bounced on the line only for Peter Hynes to bundle ball over the line, as the Harps net minder lunged towards the loose ball. Shortly after Derek Doyle could and should have killed the game when one on one with the Harps keeper only for his shot to be saved by Cairan Gallagher. Harps made two changes in the 78th minute with Nick Forker and Gary Whoriskey coming off to be replaced by Mark Moran and Caolan Kelly. Shortly after, David Cassidy struck a wonderful volley off the crossbar.
The biggest talking point of the game came in the 85th minute when a Harps player recieved a head injury. The referee played on as the Harps physio entered the field of play with the match continuing. The ball eventually went out of play for a throw in. This seemed to incense the Harps bench and following this Harps manager James Gallagher was sent to the stand. Harps continued to push for the equaliser and in the 88th minute where rewarded with a penalty following jostling in the area and captain Damien Brennan being penalised. Funston happily scored from the spot.
Finn Harps; Ciaran Gallagher, James Doherty, Ciaran Coll, Seamus Sharkey, Packie Mailey, Michael Funston, Christy Conaghan, Shaun McGowan, Stephen McLaughlin, Mark Forker, Gary Whoriskey
Subs: Mark Moran, Caolan Kelly, Paddy Doherty, Michael Carroll, Liam Mailey.
Shels Team: Dean Delaney, Stephen Quigley, David Crawley, Robbie Hedderman, Damien Brennan, Mark O'Brien, Dave McGill, David Cassidy, Peter Hynes, Anthony Flood, Richie Baker
Subs: Tony Griffiths, Derek Doyle, Colin O'Brien, Michael Synnott, Vinny Whelan.
