- Stuart Connolly
- Sat, Apr 29 2023
Stuart Connolly reports from Finn Park
Goals from Filip Da Silva and Aodh Dervin earned Finn Harps and Longford Town a share of the spoils at Finn Park on Friday night as the hosts extended their unbeaten run to four matches.
The Norwegian Da Silva put Harps in front ten minutes before the break with his third of the campaign while Dervin bagged his first this season five minutes later.
Harps remain in sixth position while Longford occupy ninth and are now winless in their last four.
There was a string of changes in this encounter that has been dubbed 'El Closeico' by the Finn Harps Social Media Admin. Dave Rogers made three alterations to his side with captain Keith Cowan back in the lineup while Daithi McCallion and Caoimhin Porter were also welcomed back.
Stephen Henderson made two changes with Jamal Ibrahim and Ukrainian Viktor Serdeniuk brought into the starting eleven.
De Town had the better of the opening stages and three big opportunities fell their way during the first 20 minutes.
Joshua Giurgi rounded Tim Heimer after ten minutes but the angle was always against him so he set up Jamal Ibrahim who had his low effort blocked on the line by Daithi McCallion.
Five minutes later, Ibrahim recorded another shot on target and this required a strong glove from Heimer to paw it over the bar.
Another five minute interval had passed and Heimer was called into action again, this time to deny a low strike from close range by Shane Elworthy.
Finn Harps enjoyed a purple patch prior to and beyond the half hour mark and after a couple of chances they broke the deadlock.
Shane McMonagle headed narrowly over from a Seamas Keogh free kick when he really ought to have hit the target while Keogh forced a smart save out of Jack Brady with 30 minutes gone.
Five minutes later Filip da Silva opened the scoring, blasting in from close range after a corner from Flood wasn't dealt with.
That advantage was short lived, however, as Longford levelled the game after a corner of their own. Aodh Dervin whipped in the set-piece from the left and with Harps only half clearing their lines, Dervin followed up and curled a low effort into the bottom right corner from 20 yards.
The second-half was only two minutes old when Harps went close to restoring their lead but Ellis Farrar could only direct his header over from close range.
On the hour, Harps squandered their best opportunity. Flood played through Ryan Rainey on the left side and his low ball into the box was pinpoint for Keogh, who directed his first time shot narrowly wide of the post from about ten yards out.
Beyond the hour mark, neither goalkeeper was required to bring their best to the party. A few lofted balls in the area were promptly dealt with at both ends while the occasional set-piece was also swept away.
The hosts had a couple of half chances but struggled to record a shot on target as the game began to tick closer and closer to its conclusion.
A late corner in stoppage time represented one final chance for the hosts to snatch the win but Longford cleared to hold on for another point on the road.
Finn Harps: Tim Heimer; Daithi McCallion, Keith Cowan (Michael Harris 79), Ellis Farrar, Shane McMonagle (Okwuy Okwute ht), Caoimhin Porter (Katlego Mashigo 64); Ryan Rainey, Noe Baba, Seamas Keogh; Ryan Flood, Filip Da Silva.
Subs not used: Oisin Cooney(GK), Kevin Jordan, Damian Duffy, Sean O'Donnell
Booked: Ellis Farrar (49), Keith Cowan (52)
Longford Town: Jack Brady; Shane Elworthy, Viktor Serdeniuk, Cian Byrne, Kyle O'Connor; Adam Verdon (Evan Farrell 90), Gary Armstrong (Ross Fay 73), Aodh Dervin; Darragh Lynch (Stephen Meaney 66), Joshua Giurgi, Jamal Ibrahim (Mohammed Boudiaf 73).
Subs not used: Thomas Bourke(GK), Ciaran Hodanu.
Booked: Shane Elworthy (47), Kyle O'Connor(80)
Referee: Paul Norton
ExtraTime.com Player of the Match: Tim Heimer (Finn Harps)
