Stalemate for Harps in Athlone

Athlone Town…….2

Finn Harps………..2

Report by Chris McNulty

UNDER normal circumstances, travelling away to Athlone Town and grinding out a two-all draw would be termed to be a good result. However, for the contemporary conscripts who line out in the colours of Finn Harps, their stalemate in the midlands on Saturday night cannot be placed into the normal circumstances category.

You see, Harps entered this clash knowing that victory was a must with two home games in the league coming up and after a poor commencement to the season that saw just five points collected from a possible 18. Indeed this game looked for a spell as if it would be the one to turn Harps' fortunes.

Paul McTiernan had given Athlone a 17 th minute lead, but Harps led 2-1 at the break thanks to goals from John O'Loughlin and Shaun Holmes and one felt that Lady Luck had adorned the colours of the Finn-siders again.

They let their lead slip though and Stevie Gavin's 50 th minute equaliser ensured Harps had to settle for a share of the spoils - and they were made sweat for their point as they were forced to see out the game with ten men following the 82 nd minute sending off of Gordon Simms.

Going into the game on the back of a disastrous series of results that saw Harps bottom from one after their 1-0 defeat to Kildare County last weekend, manager Paul Hegarty showed that he is not afraid to ring the changes when required.

In a rather bold move, the Ballindrait man left Conor Gethins and Stephen Parkhouse - who had been the side's first choice strikeforce until this juncture - on the bench for Saturday's visit to the midlands.

Marc Brolly and Seamus Brown were the two beneficiaries while, in a third change to the side that suffered defeat in Kildare, Matthew Crossan replaced the injured Jonathan Minnock at left back.

The visitors opened somewhat nervously and the better of the early play was with Michael O'Connor's men. Paul McTiernan headed straight at James Gallagher with the game's opening chance.

However, just after the quarter-hour mark, Harps fell behind with ex Sligo Rovers man McTiernan on the mark.

Left back Ryan Casey's cross from the touchline found the ever-dangerous McTiernan inside Harps territory. Gordon Simms came to challenge but his tackle was a weak one and he was punished to the maximum by McTiernan who prodded home from eight yards.

Despite a period of sustained pressure from the hosts, it was Harps who held the advantage at the interval as they hit two goals in a two-minute spell between the 34 th and 36 th minute.

First up, Chris Breen scampered down the left flank before squaring for O'Loughlin, who cut inside Sheridan before slamming an unstoppable shot past Danny O'Leary from 12yards.

Just over a minute later, the travelling contingent were on their feet again as Harps got their noses in front. Breen was again the architect for the opening when he drew a needless foul from Ronan Frawley just outside the box.

Up stepped Shaun Holmes to delightfully curl a left-footed effort in off the crossbar for his first league goal in Harps colours.

The pair of strikes from the visitors came after a couple of let-offs at the other end when Athlone really should have doubled their advantage. Matthew Crossan had to be alert to clear from the goal-line when Eloka Asokhu appeared to the final touch on a Colm Heffernan corner and almost put past his own ‘keeper.

Then, ex Harps man Ian Rossiter was fed by Stevie Gavin and Rosster unselfishly squared to the well-placed Colm Heffernan. He miscued with his attempt from six yards and Gallagher managed to palm onto the post.

The visitors were also denied a spot kick during those anxious few minutes for Harps when Eric Lavine's snap shot appeared to strike the hand of Harps defender Declan Boyle. Referee Padraig Sutton however waved away the appeals. Harps breathed a sigh of relief.

It wasn't all one-way traffic though as Chris Breen's pace took him in ahead of the Athlone defence with a chance to make it three-one, but his deft left-footed effort rolled agonisingly wide and the agony was added to when Athlone got back on level terms five minutes into the second half.

Colm Heffernan's well flighted free from the right flank found Stevie Gavin in behind the Harps rearguard. Gavin lost his marker at the perfect time and he made no mistake in heading home the leveller.

Thereafter, chances were few and far between although Seamus Brown and John O'Loughlin both fired off target when they should have done better.

Harps' frustrations were compounded when centre back Gordon Simms was dismissed after collecting a second caution for a foul on McTiernan and he will now miss Friday night's home fixture against Kilkenny City.

While this was an improved showing, Harps' tally of six points from a possible 24 is not one that inspires any great deal of confidence. However, it must be said that heart can be taken from the performances of Chris Breen, Shaun Holmes and John O'Loughlin from this clash.

Friday's visit of Kilkenny City is another that will be accorded the dreaded must-win tag - as will the crunch visit of League pace-setters Dundalk to Ballybofey.

Athlone: Danny O'Leary; Ian Rossiter, Ryan Casey, Ronan Frawley, Jim Sheridan; Des Hope, Stevie Gavin, Davy Byrne, Colm Heffernan; Eric Lavine, Paul McTiernan. Subs: Michael Harty (for Sheridan, 43mins); Dave O'Dowd (for Lavine, 72mins); Darren Young (for Casey, 77mins).

Finn Harps: James Gallagher; Eloka Asokhu, Matthew Crossan, Declan Boyle, Gordon Simms; Tony Shields, John O'Loughlin, Shaun Holmes, Marc Brolly; Chris Breen, Seamus Brown. Subs: Barry Curran (for Brolly, h/t); Stephen Parkhouse (Brown, 70mins); Sean Roddy (for Crossan, 82mins).

Referee: Padraig Sutton