LOI Report: Finn Harps 1 - 0 Waterford United

How Finn Harps would like to extend the loan spell of Ruairí Keating until the end of this SSE Airtricity League First Division season.

Keating’s loan is to expire on at the end of June and although a return to his parent club Sligo Rovers could be imminent, Harps manager Ollie Horgan will speak to officials of the Showgrounds club in the coming days. Sligo’s replacing of Ian Baraclough with new manager John Coleman might’ve muddied the waters for now.

Keating scored his sixth goal of the season on 53 minutes when he took advantage of a defensive mix-up in Waterford United’s defence on Friday night in Ballybofey.

With the teams having shared a 0-0 draw on opening night in March, it was an evening that, from early on, looked as though the contest would be decided by either a touch of magic or a mistake. Unfortunately for Tommy Griffin’s side, who hadn’t lost to Harps in their nine previous outings, it was the latter.

Patrick Barrett’s attempted clearance hit the back of Brian Nolan, who was completely unaware, and the ball broke perfectly into Keating’s path to slide the ball past Kevin Burns for the only goal of the match.

Harps, during a pedestrian start, had two sights of goal only to see the chances evaporate due to poor touches in the penalty area. Firstly, on nine minutes, Keating managed to get clear but showed too much of the ball to Patrick Fitzgerald, who won the sliding tackle cleanly.

Then, three minutes later, Gareth Harkin was set free by Michael Funston but once again, a slight mis-control was enough for Waterford to survive – this time when Burns, the visiting goalkeeper, got out to smother.

On 23 minutes, Waterford tested Conor Winn in the Harps goal with a dipping half-volley from Conor Whittle. The effort, though, was easily saved by the hosts’ goalkeeper as was a second, more adventurous from the right-back on the half-hour.

Similarly, at the other end in-between those, Kevin McHugh brought a comfortable gather from Burns. Harps had shaded the first half but the margins were water-thin.

Jack Doherty, the Waterford winger, fizzed a shot over Winn’s crossbar at the start of the second half before Keating’s goal finally created some daylight between the teams.

The goal galvanised the contest to a degree, with Harps going close to a second when Funston was denied by the feet of Byrne, who was moving the wrong way but readjusted superbly to block with his feet, after a McHugh centre. Burns gathered Pat McCann’s follow-up with less fuss.

McHugh then went close to a second for Harps as he got on the end of a well-worked move that saw Josh Mailey clip the ball into the box and Keating’s lay-off was caressed just side of the far post by the Harps skipper.

O’Connor, on 73 minutes, came close to a leveller when his early shot from a bobbling ball 25 yards from goal, which might’ve caught Winn by surprise, was just tipped around the post by the Harps netminder as he scampered back.

As Waterford pressed, they were understandably leaving holes behind them and Keating could’ve made the points safe only to drive over the crossbar from a position of promise.

Packie Mailey, with a free header, had an even better opportunity to make it 2-0, only to miss the target from Gareth Harkin’s corner with 11 minutes left to play. Harps, if guilty of anything, were occasionally taking the wrong options when on the break.

Waterford showed little from an offensive perspective and Nolan, who an improvised attempt three minutes from time, got off a shot that was of no bother to Winn. All four of the visitors’ pops at goal over the course of the 90 minutes came from outside the penalty area.

If there was to be a second it was Harps who were closer to getting it, as Keating showed with a lazy curler late on that was tipped over by Burns. As it was, Harps’ one goal was enough for the three points.

Finn Harps: Conor Winn; Caoimhinn Bonner, Keith Cowan, Packie Mailey, Ciaran Coll; Pat McCann (Thomas Bonnar 81), Josh Mailey, Gareth Harkin, Michael Funston; Kevin McHugh (Sean McCarron 87), Ruairí Keating.
Subs not used: Shaun Patton (gk), Carel Tiofack, Mark Forker, Paul McVeigh.

Waterford United: Keith Burns; Conor Whittle, Patrick Fitzgerald, Patrick Barrett, Shaun Corcoran (Thomas Whitty 66); Jack Doherty, Thomas Croke (Kynan Rocks 66), Kevin O’Connor, Philip Drohan (Mark Walsh 90); Brian Nolan, Willie John Kiely.
Subs not used: Matthew Connor (gk).

Referee: Rhona Daly.

Attendance: 250 (estimate)

Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Gareth Harkin (Finn Harps).