Finn Harps U-19s bagged three valuable early season away points today with a 2-0 win over Athlone Town at Lissywollen.
Athlone Town 0- 2 Finn Harps U19s
Harps took the win thanks to a goal in either half from Gabby Aduaka and Keenan Diver (pictured).
After drawing at home the previous week Joe Boyle’s boys were on the front foot from the start against the Midlanders and Aduaka should have given the visitors a very early lead with a free header from a Jamie Browne cross.
The Harps striker made amends in the eighth minute when he latched onto an excellent through ball from Ronan Gallagher to slot home his first goal of the season.
Manager Boyle was very pleased with his side’s first half performance.
“We had 65 per cent of the possession and were really good value for our 1-0 lead at half-time,” he said.
“Pat Loughrey and Ronan Gallagher had other good chances for us in the first half. In saying that our keeper Joe Boyle had two really good saves, one in each half.”
Harps were good down the wings with right-back Michael Gallagher linking well with Browne while on other side Ellison and Loughrey were causing problems for Athlone.
After the break the visitors should have added to their lead with Ronan Gallagher twice having opportunities while Browne and Michael Gallagher also had decent efforts.
The hosts had a player sent-off entering the final fifteen minutes and Harps took advantage to secure the safety of a second goal.
It came on 78 minutes when central defender Diver rose high to superbly head a Jack Doherty corner back across into the opposite corner of the net.
Harps 19s don’t have a game next weekend and are back in action on Saturday week the 30th of March with a home game against Sligo Rovers.
Finn Harps: Joe Boyle; Michael Gallagher, Keenan Diver, Kealan McGill, Darragh Ellison; Jack Doherty, Stephen Doherty, Ronan Gallagher; Jamie Browne, Gabby Aduaka, Pat Loughrey. Subs: Lee McLaughlin for Aduaka, Aaron Doherty and Darren McElwaine for M Gallagher and R Gallagher, Joel Bradley-Walsh and Tom Mullan for J Doherty and Ellison.
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