|
Finn Harps FC 1 - 2 Cork City |
||
|
Finn Harps’ relegation worries were further compounded with a narrow defeat to Cork City at Finn Park last night. Two refereeing decisions within a minute changed this game on its head. On 65 minutes Kevin Mc Hugh appeared to be fouled just inside the area but match official Pat Wheelan waved away the Killea man’s appeals much to the disappointed and anger of the Finn Park faithful. See pics here |
||
|
A minute later Wheelan was again at the centre of controversy as he awarded Cork a free rather harshly on the left hand side of the penalty box. The ball found its way to Colin O Brien who squared for Dan Murray and the Cork skipper made no mistake from close range with the Harps defence at a standstill. With Waterford United defeating UCD on Monday night Harps knew that they would have to start picking up points soon if they were to have any hope of avoiding the drop. Going into this game they found themselves trailing the South Easterners by five points with six games left. It was never going to be easy against a Cork side who are locked in a two horse race with Derry City for the title. In the previous two league encounters between these two sides, Cork ran out 2-0 winners. In the FAI Cup meeting Harps held the Leesiders to a scoreless draw at Turner’s Cross, while Damien Richardson’s side only won the replay 3-2 after a last minute goal from Roy O Donovan. |
Kevin McHugh |
|
|
Anthony Gorman |
Anthony Gorman and his troops knew that a repeat of this performance would be needed if the home side were to take anything from this game. However, Damien Richardson’s men got off to the perfect start when Alan Bennett punished poor marking in the Harps backline to head home past Gavin Cullen and stun the home attendance. After this Harps came into the game more, but the pace and skill of the Cork midfield was always going to pose problems for the Harps rearguard. Liam Kearney got free down the right on a few occasions but thankfully for Harps, the visitors couldn’t add to their first half tally. The home side did have their moments in the first half though. Martin Laughlan broke through but was stopped by a good challenge from Greg O Halloran. Michael Funston was next to try his luck at levelling matters but unfortunately for the former Bonagee United man, his spectacular effort from 25 yards went narrowly wide of the target. |
|
|
George O Callaghan then found himself in a dangerous position but his effort was deflected over the crossbar by Declan Boyle. With half time approaching, Kevin Mc Hugh’s effort was too close to Michael Devine and the Cork ‘keeper held the Killea man’s effort easily. At half time, Harps introduced Chris Breen to the action with the young Stranorlar native replacing Martin Lauchlan. In the meeting between the two sides Breen’s half time introduction sparked a spirited fight back from Harps that almost seen them progress to the next round. Breen’s introduction this time round again injected some much needed life into the Harps attack but it was Kevin Mc Hugh who drew Harps level on 53 minutes. Played one on one with Michael Devine, Mc Hugh made no mistake coolly slotting home into the corner of the net. Willie Bruton had a shot just wide while O Callaghan should have done better with a close range header. Liam Kearney then had a shot just wide from the edge of the box as Cork went in search of number two. Then came the refereeing decisions that led to City taking a two-one lead and after this Harps pressed hard but to no avail. Conor Gethins went close with a free on 80 minutes, Shane Bradley had a header that was just too close to Michael Devine to trouble the Cork netminder. Next up for Harps is a home tie against Alan Matthew’s Longford Town on Saturday night in what is yet another game that comes under the ‘must win’ umbrella.
Finn Harps: Gavin Cullen, Shaun Mc Gowan, Jonathan Minnock, Declan Boyle, Shane Bradley, Michael Funston, Martin Lauchlan (Chris Breen 45), Paddy Mc Grenaghan, Chris Breen, Kevin Mc Hugh, Anthony Gorman. Subs:
Cork City: Michael Devine, Danny Murphy, Alan Bennett, Greg O Halloran, Dan Murray, Colin O Brien, George O Callaghan, Neil Horgan, Liam Kearney, Roy O Donovan (Woods 82), Willie Bruton (Behan 86).
Referee: Pat Wheelan. |
||
|
|
||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
