Finn Harps 0 - 2 Monaghan United

• Alan Foley
• Sun, Nov 08 2009


There was more talk about the demise of Derry City than the plights of Finn Harps or Monaghan at sparsely populated Finn Park tonight.

Harps’ north-western rivals were stripped of their contract to compete in the League of Ireland earlier in the evening and mumbles whisked around the chill of the night air in Ballybofey about the possible knock-on effects for the Donegal club.

The team managed by James Gallagher have had little to play for in recent weeks, and their form in stuttering to the conclusion to the season continued against an ever-improving Monaghan, who won thanks to goals from front two Freeman and Darragh Hanaphy.

Freeman headed the opening goal with a close range header when Hanaphy centred on 20 minutes. Time and again this season Harps have been sloppy in letting people cut inside from the left-flank and that trend was evident again.

Both sides manufactured some tidy pockets of play on a heavy pitch, which was greasier than a fish supper, but Harps goalkeeper Ciaran Gallagher provided a few nervy moments from those huddled under the rusting blue stand. Firstly, the 17-year-old chased from his goal and upended Hanaphy in the right-back channel, and picked up a yellow card for the walk back to his penalty area. Then, a fluffed clearance, which was eventually sorted, almost blotted the copybook.

Monaghan’s lead was almost doubled when an untidy series of play in the Harps box saw Hanaphy pickpocket possession, but his dink fell just inches wide of the post. It took the hosts the best part of half-an-hour to test the capabilities of the Wolverhampton Wanderers bound Aaron McCarey, and the Monaghan goalkeeper was equal to the fizzing effort produced by Fintan Bonner. Harps penned in their visitors on a few occasions, but there was little in the form of end product.

Netminder Gallagher was fortunate not to see red in the first minute of the second half when he raced out once more, and seemed to catch Freeman. However, referee Darren Coombes awarded a corner after the hefty collision.

Niall Flynn made fine clearance at the other end with Marc Brolly and Bonner breathing down his neck after Ian Rossiter’s cross. On the hour, Brolly passed off a great chance to level when he blazed wide from right in front of goal. It was a costly miss, as within 30 Monaghan had doubled their advantage when Hanaphy skipped around Gallagher to roll the ball home.

Mark Forker almost pulled a goal back immediately, but although he got the better of McCarey, Brian Gartland came around the back to clear off the line. Cathal O’Connor somehow managed to stay on the pitch when he was only cautioned after a horrendous challenge on Michael Funston, which was both late and high.

It was, though, effectively a nothing game, and one that ended with Harps finishing in eighth position in the lower flight – their worst final position ever.

Finn Harps: Ciaran Gallagher; Ian Rossiter, Packie Mailey, Aaron O’Hagan, Gary Whoriskey (James Doherty 67); Christy Connaghan (Conor Gethins 67), Michael Funston, Mark Forker (Chris McBride 83), Stephen McLaughlin; Marc Brolly, Fintan Bonner.

Monaghan United: Aaron McCarey; Paul Whelan, Niall Flynn, Brian Gartland, Shane Grimes; Cathal O’Connor, Dom Tierney, Sean Brennan(Conor McMahon 75) , Barry Clancy (Philip Donnellly 84); David Freeman, Darragh Hanaphy.

Referee: Darren Coombes