CUP HEARTBREAK FOR HARPS August 29, 2006
Athlone Town………3 Finn Harps………….2 Chris McNulty reports from St. Mel's Park, Athlone Finn Harps made a dramatic exit from the FAI Cup last night as they were defeated 3-2 by Athlone in an unbelievable cup tie which took a dramatic turn for the worse for the Donegal side in the final five minutes of extra time. Goals from Damien Rushe and Stephen Gavin sent Athlone into a 3-1 lead, before Shane Bradley pulled one back, but it wasn't enough as it ended in tears for the pluck Donegal side who will feel they had done enough to earn a penalty shootout. Harps player-manager, Anthony Gorman, was forced into one change from the side which had drawn with the midlanders on Saturday night with Davitt Walsh not recovering from a dead leg on time. Into the starting eleven came Chris Malseed, with Gorman reverting to the 4-5-1 formation, meaning Darren Meenan was deployed as the lone front man. Athlone manager, Michael O'Connor had the luxury of being in a position to name the same starting lineup as he had done at Finn Park on Saturday night. They should have been celebrating the opening goal of the game on 23 minutes when, after a Barry Curran shot was well palmed into his path by the ‘keeper, Michael Funston watched in agony as Jim Sheridan cleared his follow up off the goal-line. From the resultant corner, Sean Mc Gowan headed narrowly over the crossbar, while the young rightback also failed to connect properly with a Minnock corner ten minutes later. Matthew Crossan and Chris Malseed also watched shots from the edge of the area go tamely wide. Athlone rarely troubled James Gallagher in the first 45 minutes. Padraig Moran fired over early on while Eric Lavine was denied by Gallagher, before Des Hope saw a header collected by the Harps ‘keeper after a brief spell of Athlone pressure at the end of the half. The second half opened in a lively manner with Matthew Crossan and Noel Mc Gee swapping chances before the opening goal arrived on 58 minutes when Eric Lavine's centre was latched onto by Mc Gee and he beat James Gallagher from close range. The lead was short lived though as Harps got back on level terms seven minutes later as Barry Curran was on hand to turn home a Chris Malseed effort which appeared to be heading wide. In the moments that followed both sides hit the woodwork with Darren Meenan and Stephen Feeney coming within inches of edging their sides into the lead. With both teams pressing late on for the winner, neither could find a breakthrough and, for the third time this season, Harps would be involved in extra time. With the tie seeming destined to be headed for a penalty shootout, Athlone popped up five minutes from time with the decisive second goal when full back Damien Rushe beat James Gallagher from the right hand side. Then, in an amazing conclusion, Stephen Gavin blasted home for 3-1, but Shane Bradley grabbed a late strike for the visitors. Darren Meenan was red-carded after the final whistle for Harps to conclude a disappointing evening for the Ballybofey based club. It was too little, too late for Harps though and it finished in disappointment for the travelling support and they are now left to concentrate on the quest for promotion. Next up for the boys in blue is a tricky assignment against Limerick FC at Hogan Park on Friday night next.
Athlone Town: Danny O'Leary; Damien Rushe, Ian Rossiter, Des Hope, Jim Sheridan; Colin Fortune, Stephen Gavin, Stephen Feeney, Padraig Moran; Eric Lavine, Noel McGee. Subs: Istavan Lakatos (for Moran, 105mins); Alan Kelly (for Lakatos, 118mins).
Referee: Ritchie Winters
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