Longford Town 2 - 3 Finn Harps
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Finn Harps recorded their first away victory of the season and in doing so inflicted a first home defeat of the season on league leaders Longford Town on Saturday night.
The Midlands venue has become a bit of a happy haunting ground for the Donegal side; they won both their meetings there last season and now have recorded another win. They are also the only side to have beaten Town this season.
This result moves Harps back into third spot and to within four points of the Town. It was a poor performance from the home side who will be disappointed with the manner in which they conceded the goals. They did rally near the end but it was too little too late.
The main talking points of the game were the two penalty claims that the home side had turned down in the first half and the terrible tackle on Town’s Willie Tyrell in the second half that went unpunished; the defender had to go off with 10 minutes of the game remaining.
It was the home side in the 10th minute Keith Quinn’s corner from the right found Brian McCarthy but the defender blasted his effort over the bar. Minutes later Gary Shaw forced Ciaran Gallagher into making a save.
In the 16th minute David O’Sullivan was unlucky to see his low drive go wide of the far post. But two minutes later and out of nothing Finn Harps broke the deadlock; Town defenders stood off Sean McCarron and he was given enough space and time to pick a spot and shoot past Chris Bennion.
Town tried to get back on level terms and in the 21st minute Noel Haverty played a neat ball to O’Sullivan but Gallagher did very well to come out and save at the striker’s feet. Then in the space of a minute the game turned very much in Harps’ favour. Purdy was through on goal in the 33rd minute but was taken down in the box but referee Sean Grant waved away their penalty claims.
With the Town players still remonstrating with the referee Harps played a long ball up the field and Kevin McHugh found himself one on one with Brian McCarthy. The Harps player showed just why he’s the best around with a cool finish from close range.
It was a blow for the home side and in the 40th minute they had another penalty call waved away when Haverty was pushed in the box by Harps’ Damien McNulty. The decision incensed the Town bench with manager Tony Cousins getting very animated.
The home side were unlucky not to pull a goal back in the 58th minute but Gallagher did well to save from Mark Salmon. The ball wasn’t cleared and it eventually fell to O’Sullivan but his effort came crashing off the underside of the crossbar.
Despite having possession Town failed then to create chances with Harps standing firm. In the 81st minute Harps extended their lead; McHugh did all the hard work to get to the endline and cross and Town defender Willo McDonagh sliced his clearance into his own net.
In the final 10 minutes Town piled on the pressure and in the 88th minute Salmon pulled a goal back. They went searching for a second and that came three minutes into additional time through Michael Isichei. But try as they might they couldn’t pull off another late late show and Harps held on for an important win.
Longford Town: Chris Bennion; Noel Haverty, Willo McDonagh, Brian McCarthy, Willie Tyrell (Michael Isichei 80); Daniel Purdy, Gavin Doyle (Keith Gillespie 54), Mark Salmon, Keith Quinn (Etanda Nkololo 38); Gary Shaw, David O’Sullivan.
Subs: Paul Hunt, Chris Deans, Des Hope, David O’Neill.
Bookings: Noel Haverty (14), Willo McDonagh (55), Chris Bennion (63), Keith Gillespie (85).
Finn Harps: Ciaran Gallagher; James Doherty, Thomas McGonagle (Michael Doherty 84), Keith Cowan, Ciaran Coll; Michael Funston, Damien McNulty, Tommy Bonner, Gary Merritt (Matt Harkin 75); Sean McCarron (Shaun McGowan 90), Kevin McHugh.
Subs: Johnny Bonner, Mark Forker, Aaron O’Hagan, Shaun Patton.
Booking: Michael Funston (59), Ciaran Gallagher (90+3).
Referee: Sean Grant (Wexford).
Attendance: 343
