20.00 12 Jul 2013 -
Referee:
Finn Harps 0 - 0 Longford Town
- Alan Foley
- Fri, Jul 12 2013
Longford Town maintained their four-point lead at the top of the Airtricity League First Division after a scoreless draw in a drab affair in Ballybofey on Friday night.
The first half was devoid of entertainment with neither goalkeeper getting called into action at all. The closest either side came was when David O’Sullivan headed an early cross from William Tyrell wide of Ciaran Gallagher’s goal.
The league leaders have had problems seeing off the Ballybofey team in recent times with Peter Hutton’s team defeating the midlanders in both the previous meetings this season – 1-0 at home in March and the 3-2 away at Flancare Park in May.
But despite those good results, Harps’ recent form has been wretched with just one point picked up from the last five outings and that was in the demoralising 2-2 home draw with Cobh Ramblers seven nights’ beforehand when a two-goal lead was squandered.
Hutton made five changes from that team with Stephen O’Donnell making a first start in 15 months having recovered from a cruciate knee injury sustained in the opening weeks of last season. O’Donnell came in for top scorer Sean McCarron to play on the right of a 4-3-3 formation alongside Kevin McHugh and Gary Merritt, who replaced the hamstrung Michael Funston.
Keith Cowan, who scored in each of Harps’ last three outings, was suspended, while Thomas McMonagle missed out with a foot injury and they were replaced by Josh Mailey and Shaun McGowan. Johnny Bonner came in for Tommy Bonnar.
After their 2-1 win against Waterford United the previous weekend, Tony Cousins, the Longford Town manager, brought in Corie Tracey and Gary Shaw for match-winner Glen O’Connor and Daniel Purdy.
Harps began the second half positively with James Doherty breaking to the byline on the right and pulling back to McHugh 12 yards from goal. However, the Harps captain opened his body too much and lamely sidefooted wide.
The visitors felt they were deserving of a penalty on 57 minutes when Shaw appeared to be taken down by Gallagher in the Harps penalty area. However, the protestations came to nothing. O’Sullivan also put the ball into the Harps net but was ruled out for offside on 75 minutes.
Harps shaded the second half and substitute Michéal Doherty broke into space on the right but lifted over both Chris Bennion and the Longford crossbar. The home team did improve marginally in an attacking sense and had a couple of opportunities that came to nothing from placed balls.
But the lack of goalmouth action continued despite Longford introducing the recently recruited Dean Ebbe from Shamrock Rovers in the final quarter of an hour. A draw would’ve been of meek consolation to both managers. It was Harps’ first clean sheet in six in the league and Longford keep their noses in front of neighbours Athlone, who drew 0-0 with Cobh. But all in all, it was a forgettable match.
Finn Harps: Ciaran Gallagher; James Doherty, Aaron O’Hagan, Josh Mailey, Ciaran Coll; Shaun McGowan, Mark Forker (Thomas Bonnar 89), Johnny Bonner; Stephen O’Donnell (Michéal Doherty 61), Kevin McHugh, Gary Merritt.
Subs not used: Shaun Patton, Hugh Carlin, Matt Harkin, Paul McVeigh, Sean McCarron.
Longford Town: Chris Bennion; Noel Haverty, Des Hope (Keith Gillespie 61), Corie Tracey, William Tyrell; David O’Neill, Rhys Gorman, Keith Quinn, Derek O’Brien; Gary Shaw (Dean Ebbe 76), David O’Sullivan.
Subs not used: Paul Hunt, Brian McCarthy, Josh O'Hanlon, Gavin Doyle.
Referee: Simon Rogers.
Attendance: .
About Alan Foley
Alan Foley has yet to write anything about themselves but click on the bio link to view all past work.
Subs
Subs
P | Team | Pd | W | D | L | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Athlone | 28 | 16 | 7 | 5 | 55 |
2 | Longford | 28 | 15 | 5 | 8 | 50 |
3 | Mervue Utd | 28 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 49 |
4 | Waterford | 28 | 14 | 5 | 9 | 47 |
5 | Wexford | 28 | 10 | 3 | 15 | 33 |
6 | Harps | 28 | 8 | 7 | 13 | 31 |
7 | Cobh | 28 | 8 | 7 | 13 | 31 |
8 | Salthill Devon | 28 | 4 | 5 | 19 | 17 |
Top Stories
The extratime Voice Notes Podcast - Season 2 - …
- Oisin Langan
- Sat, Apr 27 2024
League Report: Treaty United 0 - 2 UCD
- Éanna Mackey
- Sat, Apr 27 2024
The extratime Football Podcast - Season 12 - Episode …
- Luke Jordan
- Sat, Apr 27 2024
League Report: Waterford 0 - 2 Derry City
- Dylan O'Connell
- Fri, Apr 26 2024
League Report: Shamrock Rovers 1 - 1 Galway United
- Macdara Ferris
- Fri, Apr 26 2024
League Report: Finn Harps 0 - 2 Cork City
- Rory Morrow
- Fri, Apr 26 2024
League Preview: Athlone Town -v- Cobh Ramblers
- Andrew Dempsey
- Fri, Apr 26 2024
League Preview: Treaty United -v- UCD
- Andrew Dempsey
- Fri, Apr 26 2024
League Preview: Drogheda United -v- Sligo Rovers
- Andrew Dempsey
- Fri, Apr 26 2024
League Preview: Dundalk -v- Bohemians
- Andrew Dempsey
- Fri, Apr 26 2024
League Preview: Waterford -v- Derry City
- Andrew Dempsey
- Fri, Apr 26 2024
League Preview: Finn Harps -v- Cork City
- Rory Morrow
- Fri, Apr 26 2024
League Preview: Shamrock Rovers -v- Galway United
- Macdara Ferris
- Thu, Apr 25 2024
Ireland still looking for National Team Coach
- Phil Lynam
- Thu, Apr 25 2024
The extratime Voice Notes Podcast - Season 2 - …
- Oisin Langan
- Tue, Apr 23 2024
League of Ireland and EA SPORTS LOI Academy set …
- Extratime Team
- Tue, Apr 23 2024
League Report: Shelbourne 0 – 0 Shamrock Rovers
- Rory Merriman
- Mon, Apr 22 2024
Olympiacos defeat Milan 3-0 in UEFA Youth League final
- Macdara Ferris
- Mon, Apr 22 2024
Athlone Town's Madie Gibson: ' I would say there …
- Christine Allen
- Mon, Apr 22 2024