- Stuart Connolly
- Sat, Jun 25 2022
Stuart Connolly reports from Finn Park
Two goals in the dying embers of this match provided late drama for the spectators inside Finn Park as Harps came from two goals down to gain a point against Pat’s in injury time.
Billy King netted in each half for the Saints who remain fourth in the table while goals from Jose Carrillo and a 96th minute equaliser from Ethan Boyle produced a heroic comeback for Harps.
The result keeps Ollie Horgan's side in ninth place, ten points behind Drogheda United.
Neither side went into this encounter in blistering form, the home side had only picked up one point from their last six outings while the Athletic had two wins, two draws and two defeats from their last six matches.
Dylan Duncan impressed off the bench last week for Harps and made his first start while Gavin Mulreany and Elie N'Zeyi were welcomed back into the side. Billy King was back in the starting lineup for the visitors as Jason McClelland dropped to the bench.
The visiting side made a quick start and broke through the home defence inside 90 seconds but Gavin Mulreany was equal to a low effort from Darragh Burns. The corner that followed wasn't far away either via the head of Sam Curtis.
With just over five minutes on the clock, St. Pat's nipped in front. A slip in the defence from
Ethan Boyle allowed Mark Doyle to find King, who had rushed into the six yard box to tap home.
The Saints’ early dominance went down a notch in terms of chances on goal as the first half ticked away but they continued to enjoy their fair share of possession.
Harps didn't do much to trouble Joseph Anang while Mulreany was called upon again to deny Eoin Doyle with an outstretched leg from close range after the half hour.
Anang did cause a bit of a scare with just over five to go in the first half, dropping the ball from a routine set piece delivery. Fortunately for the man on loan from West Ham United, his defence was there to mop up.
Eoin Doyle had a big opportunity to double the lead for his side just three minutes into the half but his close range strike lacked the power to beat Mulreany.
Just after the hour, Tim Clancy's side added to their lead. King weaved in between the space in the final third to set up a shot on his left foot, which he arrowed into the bottom right corner.
With less than five minutes left on the clock, Harps found an unlikely route back into the game. Eric McWoods found Jose Carrillo in the area following a set piece and the Spaniard found the back of the net from close range.
A rally from Finn Harps, which included Mulreany going up for a late corner provided late drama deep into stoppage time.
Mulreany didn't get on the score sheet but after an initial header from Yoyo Mahdy was looped in the air but it dropped perfectly for Boyle to head in off the underside of the cross bar to the delight of the Harps supporters.
Finn Harps: Gavin Mulreany; Conor Tourish, Regan Donelon, Rob Slevin, Ethan Boyle; Elie-Gael N'Zeyi (Jose Carrillo 71), Ryan Rainey, Dylan Duncan (Mark Timlin 62), Barry McNamee (Yoyo Mahdy 90); Eric McWoods, Filip Mihaljevic (Luke Rudden 71).
Subs not used: Mark McGinley (GK), Erol Alkan, Nathan Logue, Damien Duffy, Gerard Doherty (GK)
Booked: Elie-Gael N'Zeyi (16), Ryan Rainey (27), Ollie Horgan (44), Eric McWoods (46), Donelon (85).
St. Patrick's Athletic: Joseph Anang; Sam Curtis (James Abankwah 81), Anto Breslin, Joe Redmond, Tom Grivosti; Chris Forrester (Jason McClelland 81), Adam O'Reilly, Billy King, Darragh Burns (Ben McCormack 81); Mark Doyle, Eoin Doyle (Kyle Robinson 81).
Subs not used: David Odumosu, Jack Scott, Ian Bermingham, Kian Corbally, Tunde Owolabi.
Booked: Forrester (37)
Referee: John McLaughlin
extratime.com player of the match: Billy King (St. Patrick's Athletic)
