Finn Harps 1
Shelbourne 1
Alan Foley reports from Finn Park
AFTER A FIRST half devoid of incident, Conor Tourish put Finn Harps in front on 52 minutes, only for Shelbourne to get back on terms within five minutes thanks to Stephan Negru on his full league debut.
From then on anyone couldโve won it, although the share of the spoils was perhaps fair and coupled with with UCDโs 1-0 loss at Bohemians, it meant Ollie Horganโs side move up to ninth โ although they know thereโs a lot of football to be played in the final five league games.
Harps lost their energy up top when Eric McWoods hobbled off to be replaced by Filip Mihaljeviฤ just 14 minutes in. By then, neither goalkeeper was tested, although Matty Smith did fizz an early one over for the visitors.
Shelbourne saw Gavin Hodgins pull up and he, too, was unable to continue with Dan Carr coming in. Bar that, the fact two substitutions were the talking point of the first half tells a story in itself.
From the start of the second half though, there was more impetus shown from both parties, with Matty Smith putting a dangerous ball across the Harps six-yard box with no takers.
Seven minutes into the second half, the deadlock was finally breached with Tourish glancing past Brendan Clarke in a crowded penalty area, with Barry McNamee having delivered following a short corner by Ryan Connolly. The kick was awarded after an awkward clearance from Luke Byrne over his own crossbar.
However, once they conceded Shelbourne went on the front foot, with Josh Giurgi in particular causing the Harps defence trouble. It was Giurgiโs corner on 57 minutes that was met by Negru and although goalkeeper James McKeown got plenty of glove on it, he couldnโt prevent it going home.
Eight minutes later, McKeown made a decent stop from Carrโs downward header with the contest almost unrecognisable from the first half fare. Substitute Robert Jones thought heโd headed the hosts in front only for Clarke to make a brilliant save to claw it away from the top corner.
At the other end, another replacement, Sean Boyd of Shelbourne, got onto the end of a Matty Smith pass but could only dig his dink into the side-netting. And just as the fourth official Rob Harveyโs board went up to indicate three minutes of injury time, Boyd saw a gap but his shot was kept out by McKeownโs outstretched leg.
Finn Harps: James McKeown; Conor Tourish (Jose Carillo 79) Liam McGing, Rob Slevin; Ethan Boyle, Gary Boylan, Ryan Connolloy, Regan Donelon; Barry McNamee, Jaime Siaj (Robert Jones 74); Eric McWoods (Filip Mihaljeviฤ 14).
Shelbourne: Brendan Clarke; Stephan Negru, Luke Byrne, Shane Griffin (Kameron Ledwidge 63); John Ross Wilson, Aodh Dervin (JJ Lunney 63), Gavin Molloy, Shane Farrell; Matty Smith; Gavin Hodgins (Dan Carr 29), Josh Giurgi (Sean Boyd 77).
Referee: Adriano Reale.
Hope they have wheelchair positions with good views. The Aviva stadium is excellent but Croke park is a disaster for wheelchair supporters as they are put behind the crowd who block the view when they stand up.
Any residents committees to consult with first?
Good on them. Wish them all the best.
Great news and a very constructive partnership with the RDS. Hopefully that relationship never breaks down though.
Probably good idea to put in good corporate boxes and hospitality stuff. As great as the GAA is international staff at Facebook, Google, etc are probably going to be more into the rugby than the GAA. RCC games have international prestige. Huge amounts of money to be made which can help close the gap between Ireland and the UK/France without screwing the average fan.
Remember the emirates stadium corporate bits earn more than the entire old Highbury stadium. As much as everyone hates the prawn cocktail brigade they pay the bills.
Fantastic news! This will help step up our bid for the RWC 2023! Would love the Sportsground in Galway to get a revamp. Connacht Rugby is growing! Also, with the GAA redeveloping Casement and Pairc UI Chaoimh, Has any attention been given to Pearse or McHale for further development?
I doubt the RDS would be used. Lansdowne and Croker will be used in Dublin. Canโt see them using three venues in the same city.
Will still be smaller than Thomand. I would have thought given the population of Leinster that they would have the largest stadium.
The IRFU doesnโt own the stadium, they have significant debts on the Aviva, the recession has crimped revenue, they canโt be sure they would fill an even bigger stadium. Building one new stand allows the stadium to stay in use through the building and bring in revenue. They can always expand the other stands later if needed.
The IRFU is a pretty sensible organisation.
Plus they own the Aviva Stadium. Pro 12 in the RDS and some RCC matches in the Aviva might be idea.
Thereโs no point in a bigger stadium. Larger than 25K and youโre talking Aviva anyway.
โWe often have this philosophical discussion in the office after we go to the Aviva and say โWhere are those people every other week?โ admits Dawson.
Theyโre Munster fans Mr. Dawson.
I didnโt see many munsterfans at the Leinster-Northampton game last year, or the Clermont-Leinster game the previous year. Maybe think about what you are saying before you make a studpid comment :)
โUlster have too many people standingโ I think the fans would disagree Mick. Thereโs a reason Ulster and Munster have so much terrace space. And Iโve heard plenty of Leinster fans complaining about how little terrace space there is in the RDS.
Would you fit a country singer in with a few gaa fans around mid July โฆ. That might cover some of the cost
An awful lot of horseshit comes out of the rds, therefore make your own mind up about this story
Taxpayers money handed to the Banks to pay professional Rugby was taken from the poorest in society and now they want more revenue. I understand promoting the game and commerce but like Garyh Brooks these are luxury problems. The members of the RDS are selling their values to Rugby people who have no moral compass.
Not too sure what your on. Ever second week 25,000 attend the RDS in the Pro 12 season. Say 10% are visiters spending on average minimum โฌ200 -โฌ500 for the weekend in the local economy I thought that might just create a bit of employment for the lest well of if itโs even just to give them part time work. Maybe Iโm wrong?
If there are 25,000 there every 2weekend why are they increasing it to 25,000?????
Taxpayersโ money?
I get what youโre saying Mark, but current capacity is 18,000. Thatโs why theyโre increasing to 25,000.
We dont need another big stadium in Dublin correct me if I am wrong.
I wouldnโt say a 25,000 capacity stadium is big.
Thor, youโre wrong.
Really, 25000 a big stadium,hahaha, get real pal.
The Garth Brooks Arena maybe ?
LโOreal ?
Flash, there must not be any paving or tarmacing to be done in Rathkeale today seeing that you are on the โslag off Leinster chip on your shoulderโ bandwagon. ;)
Not just leinster rugby gary, trash gordon/elrat makes a two word comment on everything or anything to do with dublin. Feel sorry for the little boy, must be lonely on his farm.
Ah Gary the number 2 Gombeen Stalker โ canโt be long now before your idiot pal James from Donabate will be along!
Wow Got a new Stalker in twerp another Lonster lady boy !! One at a time girls!!
You stay classy thrash, eh flash!
Another stadium in leinster being devleoped, pairc ui chaoimh in munster, casement park in ulster. Surely to god there is a bit of funding to upgrade hyde park in roscommon. Great location for a possibly great stadium, middle of the country and in the best county of ireland! Up the ros!
Mickey Stroker
What has the RDS being redeveloped got to do with funding for Hyde Park in Roscommon???
RDS doesnโt meet expanding. 18,000 is more than enough, and when it isnโt enough they move to the Aviva. I would rather have a usually full smaller stadium than an empty big one.
Although what they do need to do is upgrade some of the stands, enclose them so voices carry. The atmosphere is alright at the best of times and the stadium doesnโt help with that at all.
Also Leinster will need to start winning again in Europe if they have a hope of filling a 25,000 seater stadium because the RDS is barely full throughout the year.
Also getting rid of the standing sections is stupid. Thatโs where most of the real fans go and it offers a cheaper ticket.