- Gareth O'Reilly
- Fri, Apr 03 2015
On a blustery night in Belfield UCD and Finn Harps played out a 2-2 draw in an open game which either side could have deservedly left with all three points from. Goals from Mick Leahy and Jamie Doyle were cancelled out by Harps players Wilfried Tagbo and Kevin McHugh as Ollie Horgan’s men maintained their unbeaten start to the 2015 First Division season.
It was the away side that registered the first shot of the contest with Funston curling over a free kick from 30 yards out. However, this was to prove Harps only chance of the opening twenty minute period.
On 16 minutes UCD opened the scoring through Mick Leahy. The corner originally being awarded after some good play by Sean Coyne and Conor Cannon. The inswinging cross found the head of Leahy, who headed the ball goalwards before the linesman Matthew Farrell raised his flag to signal that the ball had crossed the line. This was the first goal scored by the centre half this season.
However, just five minutes later the Ballybofey side were back on level terms thanks to French born Willfred Tagbo, who smashed home from three yards out after UCD failed to clear their lines from a corner kick Both sides began to cancel each other out for much of the rest of the half with Langtry and Cowan exchanging solid efforts.
Two minutes before the half the home fans felt that they should have been in front when Jamie Doyle volleyed the ball beyond Ciaran Gallagher, from the left hand side of the box after some good play down the left hand side by Watts and Chris Mulhall. It was not to be though, as the offside flag was questionably raised, much to the dismay of the UCD coaching staff.
Then, on the stroke of half time, Corbet was almost exposed from a corner kick which threatened to curl its' way straight in at the far post, and it would have too, if it wasn’t for a strong easterly wind which came to UCD’s rescue on this occasion.
The second half began with Tagbo looking likely to add to his first half goal, with the Harps number nine having numerous efforts on Corbet’s goal, all attempts proving fruitless in the end though. It was in fact the home side who did manage to get back in front just after the hour mark when Jamie Doyle smashed home in the middle of the box after their Donegal opponents failed to clear a low Robbie Benson corner.
With Finn Harps now desperate to get back in the game they began to look to counter attack, with Tagbo racing clear on one occasion only to be thwarted by the onrushing Niall Corbet, who did a stellar job in denying the big striker. Just over ten minutes were left on the clock when substitute Ryan Swan nearly flicked one beyond Gallagher, with the chance coming from some excellent play by Dylan Watts on the left hand flank.
One minute later Swan thought he had furthered UCD’s advantage but linesman Darragh Keegan had his flag straight up into the air to signal for offside. Harps did draw level moments later when Kevin McHugh beat Corbet with a fine strike from 25 yards out leading to the travelling fans finding their singing voices once again.
It was to prove to be the last of the clear cut chances for either side, with Harps finishing marginally on top in terms of possession. The result leaves Horgan’s men sitting in first position while UCD maintain their seventh place footing in the league table.
UCD: Niall Corbet; Ryan McLaughlin, Mick Leahy (Greg Sloggett 60), Mark Langtry, Sean Coyne; Chris Mulhall, Gary O’Neill, Robbie Benson, Dylan Watts (Eoin Kirwan 87), Jamie Doyle; Conor Cannon (Ryan Swan 77).
Subs Not Used: Karl Skinner (gk), Dan Tobin, Jack Watson, Samir Belhout.
Bookings: Mulhall (38), O’Neill (63), Doyle (75).
Finn Harps: Ciaran Gallagher; Damien McNulty, Kieth Cowan, Tommy McMonagle, Ciaran Coll; Michael Funston (Kevin McHugh 70), Raymond Foy, Josh Mailey, Regan Donnelon (Matt Crossan 74); Willfred Tagbo, Tony McNamee (Garbhan Friel 87).
Subs Not Used: Tommy Lee McCarron (gk), Ger O’Callaghan,Gareth Harkin, Darragh Black
Bookings: Tagbo (86), Foy (90).
Referee: Ben Connolly
Attendance: 204
Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Tony McNamee (Finn Harps).
