Finn Harps 2-0 Salthill Devon

• Alan Foley
• Fri, Mar 12 2010


All the talk at Finn Park on Friday night might’ve been about the club’s new revive and thrive campaign, but it was two familiar faces that sent the Ballybofey club’s support off into the chilly night with smiles of contentment.

With only nine minutes remaining and the game appearing to edge towards a frustrating scoreless draw, Kevin McHugh, on his second home debut, headed the first goal of the game from a precise left-wing cross from Marc Brolly. McHugh, back at the club after a four-year sabbatical spent at Derry City and Linfield, had been quiet until then, rose highest to head powerfully past Ronan Forde from six yards.

Then, in stoppage time, substitute Shaun McGowan broke through a static offside line that was expecting a pass, to stride into the box and outfox Forde before slotting in at the near post to seal the victory. It was a fine individual goal for the local, who must yearn for a start next weekend away to Monaghan United.

With Salthill putting so much emphasis in retention rather than creation, particularly in the second half, it looked like the plucky Galway team would claim their first ever league points in senior football. But Harps, a little longer in the tooth, were patient and by the time the jury went home, were value for their win.

The league’s newcomers, who were defeated 1-0 on opening night against Athlone Town at Drom, started brightly and Gearoid O’Leidhinn shot over from a half-volley on three minutes. Harps only played in spurts in an extremely drab opening half and having not troubled Forde in the Salthill goal, only created a number of half-chances. Stephen McLaughlin shot into the side netting and Johnny Lafferty saw a shot deflected over the crossbar.

After the mediocrity of the first 45 minutes, there was an increase in intensity from the hosts after the interval and their first effort on target was a good one. Davitt Walsh, on the turn from a long free-kick from Jonathan Minnock, drew a fine save from Forde. Michael Funston and McHugh also saw efforts drift off target. Packie Mailey also went close from a header from a Funston free-kick approaching the hour.

On 66 minutes, a stage of the game where Salthill had totally surrendered possession, there was a goal disallowed for Harps from a corner from Brolly. Forde in the Salthill goal was surrounded by three players as he went for the dropping ball, which slipped over the line with the last touch coming off McHugh. However, referee Pat McLaughlin said the goalkeeper had been impeded, a call that led to Harps’ protests against the decision.

For all the deserving pats on the back, though, that the novices from Salthill obtained, their second half policies were always only going to prove worthwhile had they kept the game scoreless. However, McHugh burst the seam in the last 10 minutes, while McGowan put the cherry on top of Harps’ first win of the campaign.

Finn Harps: Ciaran Gallagher; James Doherty, Packie Mailey, Jonathan Minnock; Stephen McLaughlin, Johnny Lafferty, Michael Funston, Marc Brolly; Kevin McHugh, Davitt Walsh (Shaun McGowan 67).

Salthill Devon: Ronan Forde; Sean Murphy, Patrick Quinlan (Conor Noctor 77), Brian Geraghty, James Whelan; Gearoid O’Leidhinn, Sean Boyle, Daryl Horgan (Shane Browne 65), Luke McConnell; Michael Kennedy, Marcin Marienek (David Shovlin 69).

Referee: Pat McLaughlin