Report: Finn Harps 1 - 1 Shamrock Rovers

It's a good thing that football is a game of two halves, as Finn Harps and Shamrock Rovers altered what was a dire struggle into a contest of considerable excitement at Finn Park on Friday night.

Conor Gethins rounded off an excellent move just after the hour mark to cancel out Padraig Amond's opener, and although chances followed for both sides before the conclusion, it was the home team who felt slightly aggrieved at the finish.

Efforts rained in on Brian Murphy's Town End goal in the closing stages, but Pat Scully's Rovers were more than competent on the break to ensure that the street was a two-way one. An intriguing element arose from the rubble and there were scant few who headed toward the exit before the end was called.

With the Ballybofey outfit having failed to win in any of their last seven league games and the Dubliners without a victory in the preceding six, a draw was probably to be expected. After trailing twice against Galway United at Terryland Park a week beforehand, there was a commendable spirit from Harps not only to fight their way back into the match, but to almost win it.

Manager Paul Hegarty was back in the dugout after serving his four-game ban, but as has become the norm for the Ballybofey outfit this term, there was a requirement to alter personnel due to the ongoing injury problems.

Gavin Cullen returned in goal after James Gallagher was laid up with a hip problem, while the steady Aaron Labonte was also sidelined with an injury picked up in last weekend's draw in the west.

The one standout moment from the depressing opening 45 minutes was an excellent save from Cullen when the Harps' defenders were caught gazing for a flag that was never going to arrive. Amond timed his run perfectly, coming from the second rung of the attack, and when David Tyrell's ball dissected the thin blue line, he was in on goal only for Cullen to tip his shot around the post.

It was joked that when Gethins blasted an uncontested hop ball sportingly toward Murphy in the 45th minute that the Donegal outfit had at least gotten a shot on target. Aside from that, the highlight of the half was probably Damien Hancock's whistle that ended it and as the teams headed for the dressing rooms, there was little or nothing to talk about for either set of supporter.

Thankfully, there was a considerable improvement. From the first real opening of the second period, on 47 minutes, the visitors forged their way in front. Once more Harps got punished for being stationed too far up the pitch and Eric McGill set Amond away again. The former Kildare County loanee won the race with ease and although Stuart Malcom made it back to within his vicinity, a smart swivel of the hips both unbalanced the home defender and enabled Amond to fire past Cullen.

Four minutes later, Stephen Rice's improvisation almost doubled the lead when he scampered onto a stray clearance from Cullen and had the audacity to try and lift the ball from all of 40 yards into the unguarded net. Sean Roddy though, was alive to the danger and he managed to get back and head the dropping ball clear and away to safety.

The equaliser came on 61 minutes from a series of well constructed passes from Harps. Roddy found Tony Shields in space and the skipper in turn onto the impressive Stephen Parkhouse, who, with his back to goal, weighted the ball perfectly into the path of the incoming Gethins to strike first time past Murphy.

Both goals had lifted the eerie silence and from then on in, there was incident aplenty. Substitute Marc Brolly blasted an inviting ball right across the opposition six-yard area only to find no takers and another replacement, this time Alan Murphy, sliced just wide of the post at the other end when he was fed by Eoin Doyle.

The hosts continued to press in search of their first win since Good Friday and Declan Boyle was unfortunate to see his header loop onto the roof of the net from Holmes' corner. Then, the Harps left-back was denied with a rifling half-volley from the edge of the polluted penalty area by a fantastic one-handed save from Murphy.

Gethins and Boyle saw further half-chances end up in the terrace as Harps pressed with freedom and willingness, a total contrast to the rigidness and sloppy nature of the first half. Try as they might however, there would be no further goals and although slightly disappointed not to take all three points, can head to St Colman's Park in Cobh with a certain level of optimism next Friday.

Finn Harps: Gavin Cullen; Sean Roddy, Shaun Holmes, Stuart Malcolm, Declan Boyle; Chris Breen (Marc Brolly, 64), Tony Shields, Shaun McGowan, Shaun Williams; Stephen Parkhouse, Conor Gethins.
Subs not used: Jonny Havlin, Marc Mukendi, Michael Funston, Gerry Gill.

Booked: Parkhouse.

Shamrock Rovers: Brian Murphy; Ger O'Brien, Aidan Price (Danny O'Connor, 58), Barry Ferguson, Corie Tracey; Eric McGill, Stephen Rice, Darragh Maguire, David Tyrell (Eoin Doyle 66); Tadhg Purcell (Alan Murphy, 61), Padraig Amond.
Subs not used: .

Booked: Ferguson, Tracey, Rice.

Referee: Damien Hancock.
Attendance: 1,500 (estimate).