IT WAS A MODEST Sean Houston that appeared from the away dressing room at The Brandywell on Tuesday night after his late derby heroics.
The Letterkenny man headed the late equaliser for Finn Harps in the 2-2 draw with Derry City.
Harps had Ryan Curran’s first-half goal wiped out by Josh Daniels and Rory Patterson and were heading for defeat when Houston popped up in injury time.
The goal wasn’t just your typical cross-and-header straight out of the FIFA playbook, either.
Ciaran Coll’s cross towards the penalty spot was met by the flame-haired midfielder.
[adrotate group=”43″]From a static position, 12 yards from goal, Houston managed to arch his back and power his neck muscles to direct a tremendous header past Derry ‘keeper Gerard Doherty.
“We were just dying to get one back,” Houston said of his big moment.
“We got the ball into the box and I got a bit lucky with it.
“It was a great ball in by Ciaran. I just went to direct it towards goal and hope for the best really.”
Harps held out for over an hour after Ryan Curran headed them into the lead in the 20th minute, placing to the net after a Dave Scully shot had crashed off the crossbar.
[adrotate group=”50″]But Harps looked to have been condemned when, in the space of four minutes, Josh Daniels and Rory Patterson had Derry ahead.
Houston score: “When they scored, we were just trying to hold on for the draw. It was very disheartening when they got their second. We were lucky in the end to get something from the game.
“We came here to win the game. It was very important not to lose it at the same time.
“We looked like we might have held on. Ciaran Gallagher made some wonderful saves. It was probably going to come, that equaliser, at some stage. They had us under so much pressure, but we’re glad to get a point.”
Houston actually had two spells at Derry as a player, in 2012 and in 2014, and is now in a second stint at Harps, having previously lined out for the club in 2009.
[adrotate group=”62″]Much of his career has been dogged by persistent injuries and when he had to go off 19 minutes into the opening game of this season, against Derry, there were fears that the midfielder would be blighted again.
But he’s back in flying form again. He was a real contender for Man of the Match on Tuesday night in Derry and a couple of weeks ago it was from a surging run by Houston that resulted in Scully scoring the match-winner against Bray Wanderers.
[adrotate group=”37″]Houston said: “I’ve been going well lately. I’m just glad to be injury free and getting games under my belt again.”
They’re coming thick and fast these days, with double League champions Dundalk next up for Harps on Friday night.
Houston said: “It will be another tough game. We’ll go for the win again. We’ll be tight at the back and see what happens.”
[adrotate group=”38″]Harps might have made a decent start to the campaign having claimed 13 points from their first 12 outings of 2016, but Houston insists that they can’t rest on their laurels.
The battle to avoid the drop will be intense, but Harps seem well placed to steer clear of the trapdoor.
Houston said: “It’s been a good start. We’re happy enough. It’s going a wee bit better for us now.
“We got good draws against Wexford and Bohs, although we’d have wanted to win one of those games. We’re going well enough, but we have to keep it going. We can’t just sit and be happy with what we have now.”
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