Finn Harps

[ForzaForth]

Tight game but definitely shaded by the Youths who benefitted from a Harps mistake and a really good piece of football to take the three points in Ferrycarrig tonight. Youths started with Graham, Craig McC., Lee, Gary, Willie, Eric, Peter, Craig, Andy, and with Shane Duxey Dunne playing behind Danny up front. Harps started well and had an early corner and two long throws into the Youth's box in the first few minutes, all of which were cleared by Wexford defenders. Youths then followed with two Craig McCabe long throws of their own but Harps cleared them both. Standard of wasn't great at this point with Youth's passing too tentative and Harps being over-direct. Then, on 18 minutes, a long ball behind the Harp's defence pulled Gallagher outside of his area, and as the ball bounced he headed it up in the air but backwards rather than out of danger leaving Danny to volley home for 1-0 to the home side. Two minutes later, Danny had a free-kick which was heading for the top corner but Gallagher managed to push it round the post for a corner. Then, on 23 minutes, Duxey knocked the ball behind Crossan at right-back for Harps, finding Andy whose pinpoint cross left Danny with the easiest of headers for 2-0 to the Youths.

[ForzaForth]

Harps tipped off and should have scored immediately when Boyle did well down the right and his low cross found a Harps attacker in the clear about ten yards out but his first-time shot had no power and Graham was able to collect easily enough to leave Youths two ahead. On 25 minutes, Waters for Harps got a yellow for a tackle on Lee Grace. With 29 minutes gone, Graham pushed a low shot round the post for a corner after Youths had lost the ball in their own half. The resulting corner was headed two feet over by Cowan and then, down the other end, Peter Higgins had a loopy volley also about two feet over after the ball dropped to him from a partial Harps clearance. Crossan then got a yellow for a pull-back on Andy Mulligan and with nine to go in the first period McMonagle had a half-chance for Harps at the back post when the ball dropped to him but he put it into the side netting. 2-0 for the Youths at half-time.

[ForzaForth]

Second half wasn't great as the Youths tried to take the heat out of the game and Harps looked less and less likely to score as the half wore on. On 6 minutes, Ryan Delaney came on for the Youths in place of Lee Grace who hobbled off. On the hour mark, McNamee came on for Tagbo for Harps. On 63 minutes, Eric Molloy put in a good cross for the Youths which Andy just couldn't reach. On 70 minutes, Duxey Dunne got a yellow for a tackle on Coll of Harps and this was followed by a yellow for Crossan for dissent. Craig McCabe then got a yellow for a tackle on Boyle and this was followed by a yellow for Harps' McMonagle for a shoulder on Eric Molloy when the ball was dead. In the last few minutes, Hopper Kenny, who had come on for Duxey nearly put Youths sub John Peare in while a very good last ditch tackle by the excellent Gary Delaney prevented Harps from threatening Graham in the Youths goal who had little to do in the second half other than come off his line quickly on a few occasions. 2-0 to Youths at full-time.

[ForzaForth]

Best for Wexford were Danny who looked classy up front, Eric who won a lot of ball in the air while Craig and Peter dominated the Harps midfield. At the back, Gary mopped up everything and was followed closely by Willie Tyrell. For Harps, Boyle and Coll were probably best but their direct style was easy meat for the tall Youth's defence where both Tagbo and especially Waters were kept very quiet. Crowd was called officially at 715 although I thought it was bigger than that.

[nigel-harps1954]

Tale of two halves. Very even first half, of which at times, I honestly thought Harps shaded it only for two breaks for Wexford. Second half though we were anonymous altogether. Bringing on Kevin McHugh in centre midfield and Tony McNamee on right midfield really had us scratching our heads when chasing down two goals.

For all the chat of Keegan and Furlong during the week, I thought Wexford were awfully direct and played route one themselves more often than not. For a team with such footballing ability, they played an awful lot of hoof football with the aim every time over the top to Furlong.

Agree about the crowd, had guessed around 800 or 900 myself when standing down the corner of the ground nearest the astro pitches. Disappointing to see only around 25 Harps fans down but good to see our sponsors McGettigans making an appearance.

Them lads up in the stand had a fair few neutral passers-by laughing though. Jaysis, there was some awfully cringeworthy chants coming from them.

It's between yourselves and UCD for the title now.

[Martinho II]

what sort of chants were they Nigel?

[nigel-harps1954]

what sort of chants were they Nigel?

Most of them weren't actually chants, just sorts of groans even now and again.

Can't remember them off the top of my head, but I know there was an awful lot of silly rubbish. When Harps missed any chances they'd shout '1,2,3..unlucky'.