Finn Harps left cursing their luck and much else besides against St Pat’s

SOMEONE UP THERE mustn’t like Finn Harps.

Finn Harps 1-2 St Patrick’s Athletic

Tonight at Finn Park, Ollie Horgan’s side looked the most likely against St Patrick’s Athletic halfway through the second half.

Photo caption: Sean Houston of Finn Harps in action against St Patrick’s Athletic tonight in the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division against St Patrick’s Athletic at Finn Park. Photo: Gary Foy, newsandsportfiles

The score was 0-0 and an upset seemed to be on the cards. Ryan Curran had just struck Brendan Clarke’s crossbar but then disaster struck.

On 68 minutes, a corner from Conan Byrne offered the chance to lift the siege for the visitors. His whipped ball was missed by everyone, including a flapping Richard Brush, only to cannon into the net off the unfortunate Packie Mailey.

Ten minutes later, the points were secured when a ball smacked forward by Michael Barker set Mark Timlin away and the Buncrana native slotted past Brush with what was St Pat’s second shot on target.

The home side did get something their their endeavours in the 90th minute as Kevin McHugh scored a penalty after a foul by Barker on Damien McNulty. Manager Ollie Horgan was sent to the stand in injury time for throwing the ball at Ian Bermingham, the Pat’s full-back.

The last time Finn Harps crossed the paths of St Patrick’s Athletic, the Inchicore side ran in a 6-1 victory in the FAI Cup semi-final just 18 months ago. Even the proximity of the contest tonight shows the improvement of Harps since then.

Four minutes before the opening goal, Curran led a Harps breakaway and although he had options to his left as he cut in on his left, his shot was true and came back off the crossbar.

Then, from the return cross from Dave Scully, Sean Hoare made a vital defensive header and then, there were squeals for a penalty when the home support felt Mailey was pulled by Jason McGuinness.

This all came after a decent start to the second half for the home team, who also saw Sean Houston, who was popping up with well-times runs, shoot wide after some brilliant approach play by Tony McNamee to leave two defenders in the corner.

Horgan’s side have little interest in reputations and already this season had upset Derry City and Longford Town in the Twin Towns.

St Pat’s came out of the traps impressively with Byrne drawing a save from Brush inside a minute. But that, until Timlin’s second, was the only effort on target from those in red. Darren Dennehy also headed wide from a corner by his brother Billy.

Harps  didn’t create an awful lot in the first half but didn’t give away much either. Houston’s inventive close range backheel was blocked by a posse of red socks and then Ethan Boyle’s attempted lob was well over.

In the second half Michael Funston made his 300th appearance for the club. But it was a frustrating night for Harps.

Finn Harps: Richard Brush; Damien McNulty, Packie Mailey, Keith Cowan, Ciaran Coll; Ethan Boyle (Michael Funston 53), Sean Houston (Liam Flatley 82), Gareth Harkin, Tony McNamee; Dave Scully (Kevin McHugh 82), Ryan Curran.

St Patrick’s Athletic: Brendan Clarke; Michael Barker, Sean Hoare, Darren Dennehy (Jason McGuinness 61), Ian Bermingham; Conan Byrne, David Cawley, Shane McEleney, Billy Dennehy; Mark Timlin; Christy Fagan.  

Referee: Ben Connolly.