Finn Harps -v- Wexford Youths

• Alan Foley
• Thu, Sep 23 2010


Gary Whoriskey’s dismissal at Shelbourne in last week’s 3-1 loss at the hands of Shelbourne means he is the latest Finn Harps player to be hamstrung by suspension ahead of Friday’s visit of Wexford Youths.

The left-back from Gweedore was given his marching orders by match referee Graham Kelly in the closing stages at Tolka Park last Friday night for tangling with Colin O’Brien to complete what evolved into a frustrating night for the Ballybofey club in Drumcondra.

“Gary kicked out and showed no real malice and it's one of the those that you see players do the whole time and pick up a booking at worse, but when you play against a Dublin team and there's a Dublin referee then these things tend to go against you,” manager James Gallagher said.

Harps’ inabilities to convert their chances into goals have tied their shoe laces together this season and that trend not only continued on Friday last, it multiplied. Only Salthill Devon have scored less. Time and again they carved they Shelbourne open, before seeing the opportunities slip through their fingertips.

Ironically, Marc Brolly’s goal, that halved the arrears after David Cassidy and Stephen Paisley had given the Dubliners a 2-0 lead, was a from the top drawer after he shot from 20 yards into the top corner. But with Harps streaming forward in search of an equaliser minus Whoriskey’s services, they were pickpocketed four minutes from time when Brian Farrell added a third.

“We created more chances in the game than we did in any other one all season,” Gallagher added. They really we clear-cut and that's the frustrating thing. I'm still struggling to work out how we finished that game with nothing to show for our efforts. There were a lot of positives and the boys put in a great effort, but we have to start taking these chances.

“Some of them were easier to miss than score and Marc Brolly scored a belter into the top corner, while we couldn't hit the target from a couple of yards out. We've struggled to score goals this season and Friday was a case of that and we really should've managed at least a draw.”

Tony Shields and Davitt Walsh were both suspended for the Shelbourne fixture and are back in contention this week. Shields had been carrying a groin strain, so time will tell on that front. Michael Funston, with a rib injury, and Chris Breen, who strained ligaments in his shoulder, are both out for another fortnight or so, while Ciaran Coll and Ciaran Gallagher continue their perspective comebacks on the training pitches. Gary Merritt was a debutant against Shelbourne.

Wexford are responsible for the biggest loss suffered by Harps this season, when Gareth McCurtain,Anthony Wolfe and Gary Sheahan were all on target in a 3-0 home win at Ferrycarrig Park in July. The previous fixture saw Tommy Bonner score a spectacular winning goal in a 2-1 Harps victory in April. Wexford are on place a above Harps, in seventh, but have a six-point cushion.

“Wexford gave us a good beating the last time that we played them and we’ve recalled that,” added gallagher, who this week is undertaking his Uefa A License in Enfield, Co Meath. “Everyone has been putting in a good effort in recent weeks and that’s why I was disappointed for the lads against Shelbourne. We’ve been working on a few things since. The next week or two, though, offers us a good chance to make some progress as we’ve consecutive home games - the second of which is against Athlone Town.

“It was good to see a young player like Gary Merritt break into the first team last week. He might’ve got longer than the six minutes he did, but we had to reshuffle after Gary’s dismissal. Between now and the end of the season we’ll be trying a few more young lads like Gary.”