Finn Harps 0
Drogheda United 1
Alan Foley reports from Finn Park
A CONTROVERSIALLY awarded but brilliantly taken free-kick in the 95th minute by Dane Massey was the difference between Drogheda United and Finn Harps in Ballybofey.
With the last kick of the contest, Massey struck a fabulous winner for the Louth team and finally get the better of Harps goalkeeper Mark Anthony McGinley, who was keeping his side in the game.
McGinley performed heroics in Harps’ 1-1 draw against Dundalk a week beforehand and made three top-class saves either side of half-time as Drogheda threatened. In the end, though, he was beaten — although the hosts weren’t happy with what they felt was a soft award when Dave Webster was penalised for a foul on Chris Lyons.
It was Webster’s second yellow and he was dismissed, moments after Luke Heeney saw a red of the straight variety for a challenge on Harps substitute Babatunde Owolabi.
McGinley was keeping Harps afloat. Firstly, following a deep free into the Harps penalty area by Conor Kane, the ball broke off Ethan Boyle and Mark Doyle looked like a certain scorer, steering goalwards only for McGinley to make an astonishing save.
Scoreless at the break, the deadlock was almost broken within two minutes of the restart and again it was McGinley keeping Harps’ sheets clean as he clawed out a curling free-kick from Ronan Murray, who many felt was about to cross and not shoot.
In another two minutes, Drogheda rapped the door again, with Doyle’s header tipped over by McGinley at full stretch and although Harps created a couple of half-chances late on, they were far from their best with Ollie Horgan suspended for the second of his three-game ban, having been sent off against Shamrock Rovers last month.
Drogheda are learning fast back in the Premier Division and in many ways here tonight, they did a Harps on Harps. They got what they deserved — it just took a while — but that won’t matter one bit.
Finn Harps: Mark Anthony McGinley; Ethan Boyle, Shane McEleney, Kosovar Sadiki, David Webster; Mark Coyle (Johnny Dunleavy 68), Will Seymore; Karl O’Sullivan (Conor Barry 68), Barry McNamee, Stephen Doherty (Mark Russell half-time); Adam Foley (Babatunde Owolabi 76).
Drogheda United: David Odumosu; James Brown, Killian Phillips, Daniel O’Reilly, Dane Massey; Luke Heeney, Darragh Markey, Ronan Murray (James Clarke 78), Mark Doyle, Conor Kane; Chris Lyons.
Referee: Derek Tomney
Good to see Sammy putting in good performances. He could turn out to be an excellent Internation too. Great to see strength and depth at centre in Munster too, Scannel, Farrel, Taute, Arnold and even Goggins.
It would be nice to see some Munster developed players break into the national team, and stay there. It has been a long time since Conor Murray and Simon Zebo did so. There are a number of players in the background but they really need to start producing more for Ireland.
@grandslamkbo: O’Mahony? I agree that we could do with more lads breaking in for regular games but there’s such a log jam of Leinster players…
@EnKy: POM, of course. My error, I meant backs. No reason to drag thinly veiled hostility towards Leinster in this. What Munster-developed players do you think are being unfairly kept out of the first team or regular squad positions for Leinster players? As an Irish supporter, I want to see the best for the national team. Every team has to do their part.
@grandslamkbo: last weekend there were 3 Leinster starters, 2 – munster, 1 Connacht and 1 Ulster. For the next match it’ll be 3 munster, 2 Leinster, 1 Connacht and 1 Ulster. Not sure how you figure munster should be doing more.
@Jim Demps: It was a pretty poor attempt at trolling
This guy has got some serious acceleration.
The abuse joe get and yet the work he puts into these younger players and bringing them through slowly but making sure each part of the foundation is rock solid. Those who buy into this learning set up and do the required work will become far better players for us in the medium and long term.
@Chris Mc: where you seeing all this abuse for Joe?
@Jim Demps: Ahhhh c’mon now… Even Ive hurled the odd bit of abuse at him. And i think he’s flippin great.
The criticism from fans is constant. No matter what he does there will be those who think he shouldve done differently. That’s just the territory of being a head coach. Everyone has an opinion, so no matter what choice Schmidt makes, someone will disagree
@Jim Demps: I just made it up
@Rudiger McMonihan: ya ur probably right. I’m always dumbfounded that he goes with toner.
Fine player with a big future ahead for Munster and Ireland.