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Sean Houston of Finn Harps (file pic). Presseye/Lorcan Doherty/INPHO

Late drama denies Pat's as Harps move closer to survival

The Donegal side took a big step towards securing their Premier Division status for 2017.

Finn Harps 1 

St Patrick’s Athletic 1

FINN HARPS ARE now within touching distance of Premier Division survival.

Sean Houston netted a dramatic injury-time equaliser against St Pat’s tonight to lift the Donegal men nine points clear of Wexford Youths.

After a corner was only partially cleared, Houston rifled to the top corner. It came after a goal from a Donegal native — Mark Timlin — looked set to condemn Harps to defeat.

Timlin’s 64th-minute goal had given Pat’s the advantage. Timlin connected with Conan Byrne’s dangerous ball in from the right-hand side and, unmarked, steered past Ciaran Gallagher from close range.

It was Timlin’s fourth of the season against Harps. The goal came just four minutes after Harps centre-back Keith Cowan was taken from the field on a stretcher after going down in agony on his ankle.

Timlin, Jamie McGrath and Christy Fagan had chances for Pat’s in the first half, but Timlin ghosted in to open the scoring and it looked set to send Pat’s on their way to a win.

However, Harps had other ideas and might even have won it as Michael Funston flicked just wide.

Finn Harps: Ciaran Gallagher; Ethan Boyle, Damien McNulty, Keith Cowan (Packie Mailey, 60), Ciaran Coll; Michael Funston, Barry Molloy (Dave Scully, 75), Gareth Harkin, Ryan Curran; Sean Houston, BJ Banda (Tony McNamee, 60).

St Patrick’s Athletic: Brendan Clarke; Ger O’Brien, Michael Barker, Darren Dennehy, Ian Bermingham; Conan Byrne, Mark Timlin (Billy Dennehy, 84), Lee Desmond, Graham Kelly, Jamie McGrath (Darragh Markey, 87); Christy Fagan (Dinny Corcoran, 71).

Referee: Ray Matthews (Mullingar).

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Author
Chris McNulty
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