HARPS LET TWO-GOAL LEAD SLIP AWAY

June 24, 2006

Finn Harps………….2

(M. Crossan 33, Bradley 48)

Galway United……...2

(Cleary 57, Kennedy 59)

By Chris Mc Nulty at Finn Park

Finn Harps returned from their mid-season break in typically frustrating fashion as they threw away a precious two-goal lead which saw them draw with Galway United at Finn Park last night.

It was all looking so good for Harps. Two minutes into the second half, they had led two-nil, as Shane Bradley's header added to young Matthew Crossan's first senior goal on what was the young Killea man's first start for the Finnsiders.

However, fast forward to the conclusion of the ninety minutes and those dressed in the blue and white were thankful to be heading home with even a point as a collapse in concentration saw the Tribesmen come back to take home a point.

Anthony Gorman's Harps took to the Finn Park turf minus the services of several of the first team members who were forced to sit out the clash as a consequence of either injury or suspension.

David Bell and Barry Curran had exceeded the quota of penalty points and were handed a one match ban; Stephen O Donnell, meanwhile, picked up penalty points instead of a penalty in Kilkenny and he will now miss three games.
On the injury front, Michael Funston went under the surgeon's scalpel last Thursday and as yet hasn't fully recovered, while Conor Gethins remains an absentee through an ankle injury picked up the last evening Galway were in town.

Harps led just after the half-hour mark and again it was one of the young guns who was on hand to apply the finish.

Chris Breen carved out an opening on the right and his inch perfect cross was contested by Matthew Crossan. From six yards, the youngster out-jumped his man and directed a header beyond the reach of Alan Gough.

It was a deserved goal for the Killea native, who worked industriously throughout, until his withdrawal after taking a knock in the second half.

The lead goal came just minutes after the visitors squandered a guilt-edged opportunity to get their noses in front. Philip O'Reilly did the spade work and his centre was perfect for David Cooke to apply the finish into the unguarded net. Cooke succeeded only in smacking the crossbar from the edge of the six yard box however.

Indeed, Harps can be thankful that Galway weren't already in the ascendancy at this point as they had a goal ruled out after just eight minutes of play.

Philip O' Reilly was adjudged to have fouled James Gallagher when he beat the Harps net-minder to a cross and deftly touch the ball over the line and the Harps man received a free kick for his troubles.

Harps went in for the half-time refreshments a goal to the good and three minutes after the re-start that advantage was doubled when Shane Bradley was on hand to head home a cross by Jonathan Minnock.

At that stage the meagre Finn Park attendance - little over 300 patrons made their way through the turnstiles last night – would have been forgiven that the game was over as a contest.

However, within ten minutes the game had turned on its head and the visitors had pegged back the two-goal deficit.

First, Billy Cleary nodded home a Philip O' Reilly free kick on 57 minutes and two minutes later, they drew level.

The equaliser is one that the Harps defence will not want to see any re-runs of. Certainly, they can be thankful that the television cameras no longer attend the Twin Tows venue on a regular basis.

David Cooke passed Minnock, with unusual ease, down the right and his cross evaded James Gallagher and Cooney. The grateful Mick Kennedy slotted home for a debut goal, despite a Harps defender being on the goal line.

After this, both sides pressed for a winner, but neither 'keeper was to be beaten for a third time and so the sides departed with a share of the spoils.

This was a depressingly disappointing night for Harps supporters. Having led two-nil, to end up with a draw, is simply not good enough.

And, with Monaghan United (away) on Tuesday night being followed by a home tie against Limerick next Saturday, worrying times remain with last night's crowd the lowest seen in quite some time at the venue.

It is unlikely that there will be an increase unless results improve. They must improve though, for quite rapidly Harps' chances of challenging come November are diminishing.

Finn Harps: James Gallagher; Eloka Asokhu, Jonathan Minnock, Marc Mukendi, Shane Bradley; Chris Malseed, Sean Cooney, Anthony Gorman, Chris Breen, Matthew Crossan; Davitt Walsh. Subs: Sean Mc Gowan (for Mukendi); Ryan Mc Gavigan (for Crossan).

Galway United: Alan Gough; Nigel Keady, Ronan Frawley, Billy Cleary, Alan Keane; David Cooke, Juan Rojas, Mick Harty, Philip O'Reilly; Alan Murphy, David Goldbey. Subs: Mick Kennedy (Keady); Steve Gavin (Rojas).

Referee: Neil Doyle (Dublin)

Finn Harps Dot Com Man-of-the-Match: Harps had few performances worthy of a man-of-the-match award last night and certainly this is a difficult decision to make.

After much deliberation, the award is given to young Matthew Crossan. The young Killea man worked industriously throughout and linked up well with his team-mates. Capped off a good first start by grabbing his first senior goal on 33 minutes.