Disappointing Away Defeat For Harps

September 1, 2006

 

Limerick FC…………2

Finn Harps…………...1

By CHRISMcNULTY

at Hogan Park, Limerick

Having gone agonisingly close to obtaining a penalty shootout with Athlone Town on Tuesday night in the replay of their FAI Cup clash, Finn Harps good league run of late came a cropper as a late penalty from John Lestor gave Limerick all three points at Hogan Park last night.
The game seemed to be heading for a share of the spoils until referee Aidan O'Regan awarded the hosts a spot kick just four minutes from time after he spotted and infringement inside the box.
Lestor, who had been on the park for only a matter of seconds, stepped up to tuck home the spot-kick past James Gallagher, who had earlier saved a penalty from Conor Synott.

Indeed, Aidan O'Regan awarded three penalties in all, with Harps' leveller coming courtesy of a Shane Bradley penalty, and, it must be said, all three were questionable calls.

Harps boss Anthony Gorman had been dealt a blow on Thursday with the news that promising young midfielder Chris Malseed had departed the club to sign a loan deal with Stirling Albion in Scotland.

Throwing in the absence of Davitt Walsh and Darren Meenan and once sees the predicament the Harps chief found himself in ahead of Friday's clash by the banks of the Shannon.

There was a somewhat unfamiliar about the starting eleven which took to the field at Hogan Park on Friday night.

Into the centre of midfield came Shane O'Connor, with Ryan Mc Gavigan coming in to start on the left hand side of the midfield. This meant that Jonathan Minnock commenced at centre half alongside Eloka Asokhu with Shane Bradley occupying a front position.

Limerick were coming into the game on the back of a disastrous run of form in recent weeks which had seen them collect just two points from their last nine games.

After relieving manager Noel O'Connor of his duties last week, club Chairman Danny Drew took to the dugout for Friday's game against Harps.

The home side had the better of the opening 45 minutes and deservedly took the lead after 21 minutes when Robbie Kelleher was on hand at the back post to head Brian Buckley's inch-perfect cross from the left beyond James Gallagher.

The Gorthahork native was called into action almost immediately after Kelleher's goal, but he was equal to a close-range effort from Kevin Waters as Limerick began taking control.

Synott was denied by a good interception from Ryan Mc Gavigan as he was about to pull the trigger, before headers from Mc Cartney and Kelleher came within inches of doubling the advantage.

At the break, Kelleher's goal was all that separated the sides, but nine minutes into part two Limerick had the perfect opportunity to double the lead when they were awarded a penalty after Michael Funston's challenge on Synott was deemed, by Aidan O'Regan, to have been unfair.

Synott dusted himself down and stepped up to take the kick, but Gallagher dived low to his right to keep out the midfielder's weak effort.

Gallagher then made a superb stop from a blistering drive from Kelleher after he had rounded a couple of Harps defenders.

The visitors got back on level terms 20 minutes from time when they were awarded a penalty of their own after Stephen O'Donnell went down under the challenge of Limerick ‘keeper Austin O'Neill.

Stand-in skipper Shane Bradley assumed responsibility for the spot-kick and the big Stranorlar man made no mistake in dispatching it beyond O'Neill to restore parity.

At this stage, Harps would have been hopeful of holding out for a share of the spoils, but it wasn't to be and Lestor's goal on 86 minutes left them making the long trip back to Donegal empty handed.

Harps now look forward to what will be a testing couple of weeks. Next Saturday night, Cobh Ramblers visit Finn Park, with Shamrock Rovers to visit on Tuesday week before Harps travel to take on in-form Dundalk.

 

Limerick FC: Austin O'Neill; Anthony Wolfe, Brian Buckley, Kevin Waters, Pat Purcell; Tom Barrett, Robbie Kelleher, Conor Synott, Jason Mc Cartney; Shane Guerin, Colm Heffernan. Subs: Conor Moran (for Mc Cartney, 50mins); Gary Sheehan (for Kelleher, 81mins); John Lestor (for Barrett, 84mins).

 

Finn Harps: James Gallagher; Sean McGowan, David Bell, Eloka Asokhu, Jonathan Minnock; Barry Curran, Michael Funston, Matthew Crossan, Shane O'Connor, Ryan Mc Gavigan; Shane Bradley. Subs: Stephen O'Donnell (for O'Connor, 53mins).

 

Referee: Aidan O'Regan.