League Report: Longford Town 0 - 0 Finn Harps

• Deniese O'Flaherty
• Sun, Aug 10 2014




First Division leaders Longford Town were left frustrated as Finn Harps held them to a scoreless draw on Saturday night.

 

It was the Donegal side’s fifth draw in a row and they’ve now gone seven games unbeaten. For Town they stretched their unbeaten run to 13 games but their lead at the top is now four points with Galway FC and Shelbourne to play in the next few weeks.

 

Harps must wonder when some of those draws will turn into wins. On Saturday they didn’t have too many chances but defended resolutely against a side that have scored 40 goals league goals so far this season.

 

Although Town created plenty of opportunities throughout they forced Harps keeper Conor Winn into making just one good save that came in the 92^nd minute when he denied Kevin O’Connor a late winner.

 

It was the home side who started well and had their first chance in the 4^th minute; Don Cowan’s cross was headed wide at the near post by David O’Sullivan.

 

O’Sullivan then weaved his way through minutes later but he couldn’t get his shot on target. Town keeper Paul Hunt was called into action in 16^th minute tipping a free over the bar. And then Packie Mailey headed over for the visitors one minute later.

 

Cowan directed his header wide down the other end while Harps striker Sean McCarron had a shot blocked down by Town defender Noel Haverty in the 28^th minute.      

 

After a poor enough opening half the game came to life in an eight minute spell at the beginning of the second half with both sides creating opportunities to open the scoring; McCarron tested Hunt in the 53^rd minute and four minutes later Michael Funston came close to breaking the deadlock but his shot was cleared off the line.

 

Town also had their chances; in the 59^th minute O’Sullivan lobbed the ball over the advancing Winn but the ball bounced just inches wide. Then Gary Shaw hit his effort straight at Winn.

 

In the 65^th minute O’Connor’s shot hit the post and then Cowan’s effort was well blocked down by Tommy McGonagle as Town started to apply pressure.

 

Town continued to press and in the 83^rd minute substitute Lorcan Shannon shot wide. With Harps defending resolutely Town just couldn’t find the net.

 

Deep into stoppage time O’Connor had a chance to claim a dramatic win for Town but his strike was saved by Winn as Harps held on for a point.

 

LongfordTown: Paul Hunt; Jamie Mulhall, Rhys Gorman, Pat Flynn (Tom Morris 86), Noel Haverty; Don Cowan (Lorcan Shannon 81), Mark Salmon, Stephen Rice, Kevin O’Connor; David O’Sullivan, Gary Shaw (Peter Hynes 81).

Subs: Chris Bennion, Conor O’Brien, Ger Pender.

Booking: Haverty 51

 

Finn Harps: Conor Wynn; Damien McNulty, Packie Mailey, Keith Cowan, Ciaran Coll; Michael Funston (Pat McCann 65), Tommy McMonagle (Brian McGroary 77), Josh Mailey (Carel Tiofack 87), Gareth Harkin; Kevin McHugh, Sean McCarron.

Subs: Shaun Patton, Darragh Black, Jordan Loftus.

Bookings: McMonagle 64, McCarron 88.

 

Referee: R Harvey (Dublin)

Attendance: 437 (official)

Extatime man of the match: Jamie Mulhall (Longford Town)