Waterford United 1 - 1 Finn Harps

A late Sean McCarron goal earned 10-man Finn Harps a deserved share of the spoils against Waterford United in their First Division curtain-raiser at the RSC on Friday night.

McCarron’s strike in the 89th minute cancelled out an earlier Ben Ryan header in a game packed full of chances, but lacking in quality at times. A late red card for Thomas McBride for a tackle on Francis Rockett didn't take the gloss off their impressive second half performance.

Waterford United started well and good work from Paudie Quinn and Vinny Sullivan almost set eventual goalscorers Ryan up, but his attempted shot was blocked. The home side were much the stronger side early on and Ryan set up Sullivan, but Harps keeper Ciaran Gallagher was out quickly to smother the ball.

Harps began to have more possession with Shaun McGowan and Tommy McBride continuing to get more involved as the minutes ticked by. Their resurgence almost brought the opening goal after 18 minutes when Matt Crossan’s deep free kick fell to Tommy McGonagle but he blazed over a great chance from 10 yards.

The away side would rue that miss as Waterford United grabbed the opener a minute later. John Frost made progress down the left before crossing and Harps keeper Ciaran Gallagher punched the ball toward the back post. Ben Ryan had continued his run from the edge of the penalty and he coolly headed into the back of the net.

Quinn should have doubled the lead one minute later but his header from Peter Higgins’ right wing cross went just wide of the target. Damien McNulty was then the saviour for Harps as he kept them in the game on 22 minutes. The defender got back in time to make a vital interception to prevent Michael Coady from tapping in from four yards from Sullivan’s cross.

A defensive error almost allowed Harps back into the game just past the half hour mark. Tommy McBride got hold of the ball on the left of the penalty area and crossed toward an unguarded goal, but Shaun McGowan couldn’t get a touch on the ball from his grounded position on the six-yard line.

Keith Cowan kept the score to a minimum just before half time as he got back in time to block Quinn’s strike after the attacker had run through on goal. Dylan Mernagh almost made it 2-0 one minute into the second half, but his header from Ryan’s corner was cleared off the line.

Marc Brolly had a great chance to equalise on the half hour but, after being put through by McCarron, his heavy touch allowed Craig Hyland to get to the ball first and smother.

Harps continued to press and Kevin McHugh had a good chance from 15 yards but having set himself for the shot, he allowed John Frost to make a superb block and the chance was gone.

McCarron was again troubling the home defence and his strike from 18 yards forced Hyland to make a smart save at his near post.

But all of Harps’ pressure paid dividends in the final minutes as they struck a late equaliser. A long ball from the back from Damien McNulty evaded a line of attacking and defensive players as the ball found McCarron. He held off the challenge of Mernagh before firing the ball under the body of the Blues’ keeper.

Harps almost grabbed a dramatic late winner but Kevin McHugh's 30-yard free kick rebounded back off the outside of the post. The final minute saw Thomas McBride sent off for a poor challenge on Francis Rockett. The challenge was probably more worthy of a yellow card, but referee Sean Grant went straight for the red card.

It was a deserved equaliser for the away side who showed in the second half that they were worthy of a point and in the end, it was the half time substitution of McCarron proved the game changing moment.

For Paul O’Brien and Waterford United, it was a good opening 45 minutes, but a failure to convert other chances proved costly.

Waterford United: Craig Hyland; Dylan Mernagh, David Breen, Gavin Kavanagh, John Frost; Ben Ryan, Francis Rockett, Peter Higgins (Kevin O’Connor 82), Michael Coady (Jack Doherty 86); Paudie Quinn (Paul Quilty 70), Vinny Sullivan.
Subs not used: Daragh Walshe, Conor Coad, Aidan McGrath, Sean Whitty.

Yellow Cards: Michael Coady (24), Ben Ryan (31), John Frost (61)

Finn Harps: Ciaran Gallagher; Damien McNulty, Tommy McGonagle, Keith Cowan, Matt Crossan; Michael Funston (Paul McVeigh 83), Tommy McBride, Aaron O’Hagan (Sean McCarron HT), Shaun McGowan, Marc Brolly; Kevin McHugh.
Subs not used: Tommy Bonner, Mart Forker, Matt Harkin, Shaun Patton, Michael Doherty.

Yellow Cards: Kevin McHugh (37)

Red Card: Thomas McBride (93)

Referee: Sean Grant

Attendance: 628

Man of the Match: Sean McCarron