Harps win Inaugural Shield Final

May 17, 2007

Finn Harps Reserves……4

Keadue Rovers…………..0

HISTORY was made at a windswept Diamond Park in Ballyare on Friday night last when Finn Harps Reserves became the first team to win the Ulster Senior League Shield when Shaun McGowan's young charges overcame Keadue Rovers by four goals to nil.

This triumph was also significant as it represented the first occasion on which Harps Reserves collected silverware since their return to the local Intermediate grade at the start of last season.

While Harps Reserve sides in years gone by were second string outfits, the contemporary hopefuls are behind the U-21s in the Finn Park pecking order and are now the third string and remarkably the average age of the side is just 19.

Harps went into the game as the underdogs as Keadue had recorded wins in both the League meetings between the sides, but it was the young Harps who got off to a perfect start, opening the scoring with their first attack.

Former underage international Barry Tourish was the man who had the honour of notching up the first goal in a USL Shield final. The Castlefinn man drove his effort through a ruck of players to give Harps the lead.

Keadue, assisted by a strong breeze then dominated the game for over fisteen minutes and had numerous chances to draw level. A James Boyle corner was headed wide at the back post by Aidan Hanlon, while Paul McGarvey had two shots from distance which were easily dealt with by Liam Mailey in the Harps goal.

Meanwhile, Packie McGonigle had a header that just glanced wide of the upright after a good move on the left from Aidan Hanlon.

The fact that Keadue didn't capitalise on those chances was to prove costly as Harps then broke to score two goals in a two-minute spell that changed the course of the game. On the half-hour mark Danny Keohane found Barry Tourish on the left and his cross was only partially cleared into the path of Trevor Gethins.

The Republic of Ireland Defence Forces International kept his eye firmly on the ball and, as it fell from the air, he hit a beautiful right foot volley past the outstretched Tony Boyle.

Two minutes later young Oisin McMenamin forced a corner and from the resulting set piece the ball again fell to Gethins who this time drilled a low left foot drive to the back of the net for his second and Harps third of the evening.

The Rosses men did threaten before half-time but the young Harps defence defending extremely well throughout to keep the Keadue attacks at bay.

After the break Paddy Bonner had a good strike thgat went narrowly over the bar as Keadue attempted to make a comeback.

However, Harps now had their tails in the air and started creating a few chances of their own. Big Jonathan Gallagher broke away on the left but he shot across the face of Tony Boyle's goal.

Then Oisin McMenamin made a great solo run through on goal but Boyle made a very good save at the feet of the Newtowncunningham lad.

Harps' next move was to settle the tie as a contest. Alan Gethins laid a ball back for his older brother Trevor to strike but his shot was blocked down and fell to the waiting Barry Tourish who stabbed home his second from six yards to make it four-nil.

Credit must be given to Keadue who never gave up and for the last 20 minutes troubled the Harps rearguard with a few decent chances.

The pick of these was a drive from substitute Sean Sweeney in the 73 rd minute, but Liam Mailey tipped brilliantly over the bar. Mailey was again called into action with ten minutes remaining when he saved a snap shot from Packie McGonigle with his foot.

Two other late efforts from Mel O'Donnell and Paul McGarvey both went over the bar summing up an evening of missed chances by the Rosses men.

Ulster Senior League Chairman Eamon McConigley presented the Shield afterwards to Harps captain Colm McGonigle.

Finn Harps Reserves: Liam Mailey; Darren McGowan, Danny Keohane, Brian Lafferty, Christopher Murrin, Colm McGonigle, Alan Gethins, Oisin McMenamin, Jonathan Gallagher; Barry Tourish, Trevor Gethins. Subs: Ronan O'Connor (for Oisin McMenamin). Sub not used: Kyle Devine.

Keadue Rovers: Tony Boyle; Raymond Sweeney, James Boyle, Derek Bonner, Martin McGarvey; Colm McCarron, Paddy Bonner, Paul McGarvey, Danny Doogan; Packie McGonigle, Aidan Hanlon. Subs: Sean Sharkey (for Paul McGonigle); Mel O'Donnell (for Danny Doogan). Subs not used: Declan Gillespie, Benny McGarvey and Paul McGonigle.

Referee: Con McLaughlin