- Alan Foley
- Sat, Aug 02 2014
With Finn Harps and Wexford Youths being the only realistic parties able to bridge the void to the top three places in the SSE Airtricirty League First Division, a share of the spoils on Friday night wouldn’t particularly have suited either.
Both teams had a goal to their name in just over quarter of an hour with a bullet from Ben Ryan cancelling out Josh Mailey’s second minute opener. Harps took the lead again through Kevin McHugh, who then missed a penalty, before Furlong levelled it up on 76 minutes from the spot.
Either team, in all truth, could’ve won it. Caoimhin Bonner was given a straight red card four minutes from time for a bit of afters with substitute Craig Wall. It was Harps’ ninth red card this season.
With the play not even settled, Mailey looked purposeful as he chested the ball down for himself 25 yards from goal. Opting to take the ball down, the former Letterkenny Rovers midfielder played a give and go with Michael Funston before slotting the return past Graham Doyle, side-footing across the goalkeeper into the inside netting. It was a splendidly manufactured and finished goal. Only 94 second had been played.
However, on 16 minutes, Mailey was dispossessed about 40 yards from his own goal by Gary Delaney, who fed Ben Ryan to level with piercing 25-yarder past Conor Winn. The punishment perhaps didn’t fit the crime as there was still plenty to do. Wexford, though, had an excellently taken goal and parity.
Six minutes before half-time, Winn made a decent save when Ryan’s right-footed inswinging free-kick from the edge of the box flew just past Ryan Delaney but the Harps netminder did well to react and turn away. Then, Andy Mulligan squared to Eric Molloy on the edge of the penalty area but the visitors were disappointed to see the shot arc over Winn’s crossbar.
Three minutes into the second half Delaney was just off the mark, whilst under pressure from Packie Mailey, as he headed just over following a Mulligan corner-kick. Gareth Harkin, the Harps midfielder, drew a decent stop from Doyle following a wonderful centre from Sean McCarron and Keith Cowan couldn’t keep his header from McHugh’s resultant corner down.
Those opportunities were the prelude to McHugh firing Harps 2-1 in front. The 34-year-old’s only goal this term had come in the 2-2 draw against Wexford at Ferrycarrig Park in May. But when Harking rolled the ball into his path on 57 minutes, McHugh slotted the ball over Doyle. It was his 173rd goal for Harps.
Harps had only conceded once in their previous five outings with something to hold onto, the home side looked lively on the break with McCarron and McHugh both warming Doyle’s hands.
Harps, on 70 minutes, had an opportunity to go 3-1 up when Harkin’s pop was, somewhat harshly, believed to have struck a hand in the penalty area. Referee Simon Rogers pointed to the spot having been informed by assistant Darren Carey. McHugh, though, went for placement and his side-footed effort, aimed at the top corner, flew just over.
Wexford could breathe again. Their pulse could be felt when Furlong’s perfectly placed penalty, into Winn’s bottom right corner, made it 2-2 on 77 minutes after Keith Cowan was adjudged to have bundled over Gary Delaney.
In an exciting conclusion, Bonner saw a headed goal disallowed for a push before Peter Higgins fizzed a ball across the Harps goal line that Mulligan was inches away from reaching. Furlong skimmed the crossbar in the 93rd minute before, at the other end, Harkin’s toe-poke on the stretch was blocked by Doyle. Honours even.
Finn Harps: Conor Winn; Caoimhin Bonner, Packie Mailey, Keith Cowan, Ciaran Coll; Michael Funston (Brian McGroary 77), Josh Mailey, Damien McNulty, Gareth Harkin; Sean McCarron, Kevin McHugh.
Subs not used: Shaun Patton (gk), Jordan Loftus, Carol Tiofack, Thomas McMonagle, Thomas Bonner, Darragh Black.
Booked: C Bonner (79), McNulty (85)
Sent Off: C Bonner (86)
Wexford Youths: Graham Doyle; Killian Cantwell, Gary Delaney (Craig Wall 72), Stephen Last, Ryan Delaney; Peter Higgins, Shane Dunne, Andy Mulligan; Eric Molloy, Ben Ryan, Danny Furlong.
Subs not used: Shaun O'Donnell, Shane Nolan, Bryan Doyle, Adam Cox, CJ Browne, Craig Wall.
Booked: Furlong (72)
Referee: Simon Rogers.
Attendance:
