Finn Harps 3 -2 Sporting Fingal
Credit:
Finn Harps produced their best performance of the season to date when they defeated high-flying Sporting Fingal at Finn Park last night.
Goals from Packie Mailey, Fintan Bonner and Sean Houston ensured the team managed by James Gallagher came from behind to win and stretch their unbeaten league run to a healthy five games.
In truth, the home side’s win was certainly deserving having dictated the pace of the game from the off, and in fact the opening goal from Conan Byrne for the Dubliners came against the run of play. Byrne headed into an open goal from a cross by Alan Kirby after Harps goalkeeper Ciaran Gallagher scrambled to reduce the angle. Although he succeeded in temporarily achieving his mission, Kirby swung in a cross eventually and Byrne was on hand to score on 24 minutes.
Unperturbed, Harps continued with their strategies and were rewarded inside of seven minutes with an excellent goal from central defender Mailey, who came up to join the attack. Unchallenged, he decided to have a pop at goal from 30 yards and his delightful effort curled inside the top corner, past Darren Quigley, for a picture book goal.
That livened the sparse crowd, that didn’t particularly swell after the final whistle of Donegal’s All-Ireland qualifier with Carlow across the road at MacCumhaill Park. Just before half-time, there was further reason for cheer. Christy Conaghan’s corner was headed back across the goal by Houston and Bonner tucked in from close range on 41 minutes.
The win was even more praiseworthy as Gallagher was forced to plan without an army of players. Club captain Conor Gethins remains an absentee with a dislocated shoulder, Johnny Havlin was carrying a knee injury, Ruairi Harkin and David McDaid left the club in the mid-season break, Marc Brolly was suspended, Oisin McMenamin and Mark Forker are away at the World University Games in Serbia with the Irish squad and Gavin Cullen was away on his honeymoon. However, Marc Mukendi was in the side, confounding reports he had left for Coleraine during the week.
After the break, Harps continued to play with energy and verve and their performance was capped by Houston. After picking up possession from a clearance that rebounded his way, danced past a couple of challenges to make it 3-1 a minutes before the hour.
In stoppage time, Fingal made for a nervous conclusion when Danel Corcoran scored. The substitute played a one-two with Eamon Zayed and tucked past Gallagher after beating the offside trap, but Harps held on for a great three points.
Finn Harps: Ciaran Gallagher; Ian Rossiter, Marc Mukendi, Packie Mailey, Ciaran Coll; Christy Conaghan, Michael Funston, Shaun McGowan; Gary Whoriskey; Fintan Bonner, Sean Houston.
Sporting Fingal: Darren Quigley; Colm James (Eric Foley 74), Brian Gannon, Philip Byrne, Lorcan Fitzgerald; Conan Byrne, Alan Kirby, Robert Bayly, Ross Gaynor (Fiachra McArdle 65 mins); Gary O’Neil (Daniel Corcoran 85), Eamon Zayed.
Referee: Paul Tuite (Dublin).
Goals from Packie Mailey, Fintan Bonner and Sean Houston ensured the team managed by James Gallagher came from behind to win and stretch their unbeaten league run to a healthy five games.
In truth, the home side’s win was certainly deserving having dictated the pace of the game from the off, and in fact the opening goal from Conan Byrne for the Dubliners came against the run of play. Byrne headed into an open goal from a cross by Alan Kirby after Harps goalkeeper Ciaran Gallagher scrambled to reduce the angle. Although he succeeded in temporarily achieving his mission, Kirby swung in a cross eventually and Byrne was on hand to score on 24 minutes.
Unperturbed, Harps continued with their strategies and were rewarded inside of seven minutes with an excellent goal from central defender Mailey, who came up to join the attack. Unchallenged, he decided to have a pop at goal from 30 yards and his delightful effort curled inside the top corner, past Darren Quigley, for a picture book goal.
That livened the sparse crowd, that didn’t particularly swell after the final whistle of Donegal’s All-Ireland qualifier with Carlow across the road at MacCumhaill Park. Just before half-time, there was further reason for cheer. Christy Conaghan’s corner was headed back across the goal by Houston and Bonner tucked in from close range on 41 minutes.
The win was even more praiseworthy as Gallagher was forced to plan without an army of players. Club captain Conor Gethins remains an absentee with a dislocated shoulder, Johnny Havlin was carrying a knee injury, Ruairi Harkin and David McDaid left the club in the mid-season break, Marc Brolly was suspended, Oisin McMenamin and Mark Forker are away at the World University Games in Serbia with the Irish squad and Gavin Cullen was away on his honeymoon. However, Marc Mukendi was in the side, confounding reports he had left for Coleraine during the week.
After the break, Harps continued to play with energy and verve and their performance was capped by Houston. After picking up possession from a clearance that rebounded his way, danced past a couple of challenges to make it 3-1 a minutes before the hour.
In stoppage time, Fingal made for a nervous conclusion when Danel Corcoran scored. The substitute played a one-two with Eamon Zayed and tucked past Gallagher after beating the offside trap, but Harps held on for a great three points.
Finn Harps: Ciaran Gallagher; Ian Rossiter, Marc Mukendi, Packie Mailey, Ciaran Coll; Christy Conaghan, Michael Funston, Shaun McGowan; Gary Whoriskey; Fintan Bonner, Sean Houston.
Sporting Fingal: Darren Quigley; Colm James (Eric Foley 74), Brian Gannon, Philip Byrne, Lorcan Fitzgerald; Conan Byrne, Alan Kirby, Robert Bayly, Ross Gaynor (Fiachra McArdle 65 mins); Gary O’Neil (Daniel Corcoran 85), Eamon Zayed.
Referee: Paul Tuite (Dublin).
