Finn Harps away

Tactical substitution, I'll be filling in for ForzaForth this week.

It was a particularly tempermental game in Finn Park, attended by roughly 250 including 6 from Wexford. Youths line-up for the night was unchanged from last week: Graham Doyle, Peter Higgins, Stephen Last, Killian Cantwell, Ryan Delaney, Eric Molloy, Shane Dunne, Shane Nolan, Aidan Keenan, Danny Furlong, and Dean Broaders.

The home side were dominant in possession for nearly all of the first half, although the first half-chance fell to Wexford after 3 minutes. Furlong sat deep and played the ball through to Keenan, but his touch was slightly too heavy and Conor Winn was able to scoop it up.

The ball hardly left the Youths half for the next 35 minutes, Harps pressure was effective against a nervous-looking Youths side, who were also out-muscled on the ball. After 6 minutes, Ruari Keating produced Harps first decent chance when he dispossessed Graham Doyle, but blasted the ball well over. It was the first of many chances passed up by Keating, who after 10 minutes sent a free kick skywards after Shane Nolan was judged to have pushed a man in the air.

The Harps pressure did not let up for some time, and it caused a number of worrying moments in the Youths back 4. The usually unflappable Peter Higgins was caught in two minds after 17 minutes, allowing Harps winger Thomas Bonner a run at goal. Stephen Last and Shane Nolan were also nearly caught out again by Keating, who nearly had a clear sight of goal.

Finn Harps even managed to get the ball in the net, a quick cross from Damien McNulty on the left was met by Johnny Bonner in plenty of space, who headed it back across goal. Keith Cowan easily nodded it into the net, however the referee ruled that he had been climbing on the Youth's defender.

At this point frustration crept into the Harps side. They gave a string of unnecessary fouls, which allowed Youths to gain some breathing room. Dean Broaders gave an excellent performance once the Youths were able to get on the ball, making some excellent runs up the left wing. He created a great chance for Eric Molloy at 37 minutes, but linesman's flag went up for offside before the shot was taken.

Frustration got the better of Finn Harps' defender Keith Cowan around 5 minutes before the half. After some words were exchanged with Danny he quite clearly went to hit him, directly in front of the two manager's technical area. Chaos broke out, however Rox Keenan clearly gave Cowan a good shove. Once order was restored, the referee Ben Connolly gave Cowan a straight red card, and Rox a yellow. Ollie Horgan and the Harps fans were audibly outraged by the decision, and in truth Rox can consider himself quite fortunate that he didn't have to follow Cowan off the pitch.

Deano and Eric both found themselves with a lot more possession in the Harps' half following the incident, and the game looked considerably more open going into the second half.

The start of the second half was a far slower, more patient affair. Despite the build-up being slower, there was certainly no fewer chances. Dean Broaders was switched over to the left wing for the second half, and was at the centre of almost of Wexford's chances. At the hour mark he created two chances in quick succession, skinning the Harps right-back both times. The first time he opted to send the ball all the way over to Peter Higgins on the right, who set it back to Eric Molloy who's shot was gathered by Harps keeper Conor Winn. Almost immediately after, he decided to take the ball on himself, but sent the ball slightly too far for any of the Youths front men to get to.

The midfield was re-shuffled shortly afterwards. With Harps down to 10, Shane Nolan found himself with a considerable amount of space. Nolan was brought off for Danny Fitzpatick making his first appearance of the year. Fitzpatrick was sent to wide right leaving Rox, Dunne and Molloy in the centre, with Dean staying wide left.

Two minutes afterwards the deadlock was broken. Dean Broaders sent a speculative cross from the left side, which was met by Killian Cantwell, who headed the ball off the post and in from an impressive distance out. Youths 1-0

Finn Harps, now chasing the game, responded by upping the pace and the game became even more open, and less patient. Dean Broaders continued to create chances on the left, with Harps able to force the ball through the centre. They levelled 5 minutes from full-time, with an ever so slightly suspicious penalty. From a corner, Graham Doyle was blocked on two sides by Harps forwards, and was deemed to have pushed over the man behind him, Ruari Keating. Keating took the penalty himself, sending it to Graham's right and in. Youths 1-1 Harps

Youths created 3 more chances but were unable to snatch a winner. They won two corners shortly after the goal, both taken by Broaders and both punched away by Conor Winn in goal. The Youths had one spectacular final chance to win the game, when Conor Winn, who was far from dominant on the night, rushed out far to his left but failed to get the ball from an incoming Danny Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick sent the ball back to Danny Furlong, who had an excellent effort from distance cleared off the line by a cautious Finn Harps defender. Full time, Youths 1-1 Harps


Man of the match for the Youths was Dean Broaders, who is making a serious case for his inclusion every week. Stephen Last as usual had a confident performance, and Ryan Delaney continued to look right at home in a relatively experienced Wexford Youths defence. All in all, a draw seemed a fair result. Youths were lucky that Harps spurned so many chances during their extended period of control in the first half, as well as managing to keep 11 players on the pitch in an indisciplined game.

Youths can consider themselves very lucky to get a point from that game. Harps could well have been two or three up at half time.
You've your keeper to blame for the penalty. Absolutely nothing suspicious about it, absolutely threw the man to the ground with a tackle that would be frowned upon on a rugby pitch.

Sending off was a bit mental. Both players raised their hands and Furlong can consider himself very lucky to have stayed on the pitch too.

Around 450-ish in attendance. Very poor crowd altogether, but there were a number of events happening in the locality that drew folk away sadly.

Brilliant report, Darkglasses. I think I should retire!