Finn Harps 0 - 2 Galway United

Galway United moved level with Finn Harps as goals from John Russell and James O'Shea gave the Terrylanders a precious and deserved two-nil win against a poor Harps in Ballybofey tonight.

O'Shea sealed the points for Jeff Kenna's team with a 90th minute second to add to the opener scored by John Russell in the first half, piling further misery on Paul Hegarty and Harps, who have endured a torrid week, both on and off the field.

Galway, though, were the more hungry and determined side tonight and it was the small band of travelling fans who left in high spirits after seeing their side record a win over one of their fellow relegation-threatened sides.

Manager Kenna pounced late on transfer deadline day yesterday to land two new faces for the struggling Tribesmen. Iarfhlaith Davoren returned to the club from Athlone Town while the services of Danish striker Jesper Jorgensen were also secured with both players in from the start.

In all, Kenna's team showed five changes from that which had been hammered by Derry last week with Gary Rogers, John Russell and Seamus Conneely also named in the first eleven.

With their game against Drogheda United put off last week, Harps were also entering tonight's game looking to make up for a hammering in their last outing having been hit 4-1 at Sligo a fortnight ago. Without the suspened Stephen Parkhouse and Declan Boyle, Harps were also forced to plan without the injured Davy Byrne and Chris Breen.

Stuart Malcolm returned to the defence while Austin Friel was in for his first start. The visitors had the better of the opening half and they led at the interval, though it took them some 39 minutes to forge the breakthrough. The lively Iarfhlaith Davoren carved out the opening and his dangerous cross from the right flank was turned home by John Russell who slid in to direct the ball past Gallagher.

Moments earlier, Harps had what appeared to be a justifiable claim for a penalty waved away when Michael Funston went down under the challenge of Russell, but all they got out of it was a corner. Harps had lived a charmed life early on with three close calls averted inside the opening 20 minutes: on five minutes, Gallagher got out to claim possession from the head of O'Shea after Murphy's free was directed back across goal by Lester; then O'Shea had a speculative shot from out the right flank rebound off the upright with the 'keeper beaten having picked up the pieces from a poor clearance by Minnock; while another effort from O'Shea came off the head of Malcolm.

After Funston shot over at one end, new signing Jorgensen clipped one wide after being fed by Glynn, his end shot going off target with Gallagher out well to apply the pressure. Harps' best chance of the half came on 20 minutes when a blistering run by Funston saw him played in by Gethins, but after his shot was blocked by a defender Austin Friel miscued and put his effort wide.

Gallagher was then on hand to deny Jorgensen with a fine one-handed stop after the 'keeper was panicked into tipping over Glynn's cross. Davoren was next to try his luck, but Gallagher was again on hand to make the save while Jorgensen put his follow-up into the side-netting.

Conor Gethins blazed wide just after the hour mark as he burst into the box with an effort he really should have tested Rogers with. As the game entered its final quarter, sub Marc Brolly forced Rogers into a superb save. The Galway custodian did well to palm down the Strabane man's header as Harps sought a crucial strike.

In their endeavours, they pushed big Stuart Malcolm up from the back in an attempt to salvage a point. Their efforts were in vain however, as O'Shea drove home from the edge of the box to make sure of the result.

Finn Harps: James Gallagher; Marc Mukendi, Jonathan Minnock, Stuart Malcolm, Shaun Holmes; Michael Funston, Shaun McGowan, Neil McCafferty, David Tyrell (Marc Brolly 46); Austin Friel (Chris Breen 65), Conor Gethins.
Subs not used: Gavin Cullen, Kevin Ramsey, James Doherty.

Galway United: Gary Rogers; Seamus Conneely, Jeff Kenna, John Lester, Mark McCulloch; James O'Shea, Alan Murphy, John Russell, Iarfhlaith Davoren (Ciaran Foley 83); Derek Glynn (Jason Molloy 73), Jesper Jorgensen (Vinny Faherty 90).
Subs not used: Alvin Rouse, Paul Sinnott.

Referee: Declan Hanney (Dublin).

Attendance: 1,185