Finn Harps v Galway United

Galway defeat baby faced Harps
2009-02-13 21:44:23
By Alan Foley

New look Finn Harps opened their pre-season with a defeat at the hands of Premier Division Galway United at Finn Park on Friday night.

Goals from Vinny Faherty and Jonathan Keane were enough to seal a decent win on the road for the Terryland Park outfit, who fielded a more experienced side from the off in the Ballybofey chill.

With Harps still unsure of their budget for the season ahead, although well aware that it is likely to be a fraction of what proved not good enough to stay in the Premier Division last season, Paul Hegarty’s squad was a young one. He will have learned though, that his light team will face sides with much more physicality, although less footballing ability than Galway, in the coming months.

However, Hegarty will not have been overly disappointed with Harps’ showing against the club managed by Ian Foster, who was in the dugout after stepping up from assistant in the wake of Jeff Kenna’s departure to St Patrick’s Athletic.

Galway opened the scoring on 20 minutes when Seamus Connelly broke down the right flank and his first time centre was placed into the far bottom corner by Faherty, who opened up his body before tucking home.

Hegarty’s team opened brightly, forcing a number of corners to begin with, and looked reasonable competent in possession. The Galway goal was from an infrequent attack, although after it, they were much smoother on the ball, even without the expressive Jay O’Shea who was taken off with a minor knock as a precaution right after the goal.

Harps tried to force a first half equaliser from pot-shots from long range from Conor Gethins, and Ian Rossiter who was trying to catch Hegarty’s eye. Another trialist was Vinny Sullivan from Glentoran, who made little or no impact in front of goal.

The Terryland Park outfit lined out with former Letterkenny Rovers goalkeeper Liam Grant, from Newtowncunningham, and Castlefin native Shane Guthrie, who joined from Cobh Ramblers, also involved.

Right on half-time, Grant made an excellent save to fizzle out the best Harps could muster. Paddy Bonner’s free from the left wing was headed onto the woodwork by Sean Houston and the rebound dropped to Johnny Havlin, who stubbed goalwards. However, Grant, backpedalling, finger-tipped the ball over the crossbar.

On 57 minutes, Galway managed a second goal when Jonathan Keane got up with Havlin and his header was good enough to beat Cullen from a cross on the right from Faherty, the ball nestling in the net at the River End, having sneaked in just inside the post.

The game effectively ended as a contest then with Harps making a clutter of substitutions to give some experience to members of their squad. Half chances came and went at both ends, Mukendi going closest for Harps with a late header that was cleared off the line by Paul Sinnott. Galway though, were content enough with their victory, while Harps have much work to do.

Finn Harps: Gavin Cullen; Ian Rossiter (James Doherty 46 mins), Johnny Havlin, Marc Mukendi, Gary Whoriskey (Ciaran Coll 46 mins); Christy Conaghan (Oisin McMenamin 70 mins), Paddy Bonner, Ruairi Harkin (Shaun McGowan 46 mins, Mark Forker 73 mins) Sean Houston (Marc Brolly 70 mins); Vinny Sweeney (Damien Whitehead 70 mins), Conor Gethins (David McDaid 46 mins).

Galway United: Liam Grant; Seamus Connelly (James Minogue 46mins), Shane Guthrie, Paul Sinnott, Darren Stapleton; Cian O’Brien, Jonathan Keane Dave Cooke, Derek O’Brien (Iarfhlaith Daveron 62 mins); Jay O’Shea (Jason Molloy 21 mins), Vinny Faherty (Barry Moran 62 mins).

Referee: Paul Deering (Sligo)