Finn Harps

[ForzaForth]

Huge up-and-over deflection off a Harps defender from a Tom Elmes shot with virtually the last kick of the game salvaged a point for the Youths tonight after it looked like they would go home with nothing after a strong second half by Harps. Youths made two changes from the team which started against Longford with Rocks and Eric missing but kept the same 4-1-4-1 shape with Graham in goal, Brian in front of a back four of Clarkey, Jamie, Scally and Corkey and Danny in front of a midfeld of Joey, Craig, Shane and Deano. Youths had a stronger first half. After four, McHugh put a ball through but the Harps runner was called just offside. However, after seven, Shane Nolan scored a peach of a goal when he got the ball wide right and turned inside on his left before curling a delicious shot high inside the far post for 1-0 to the Youths. After ten, McHugh had a low effort from wide left but Graham got down well.

[ForzaForth]

However, Youths looked vulnerable in the air all night, particularly when the tall Harps halves were able to get forward. After 17, Graham had to push a free Harps header around the post. However, after 20, Youths went two ahead when a neat flick by Danny put Joey in the clear and his shot was saved by Gallagher in the Harps goal but came straight back to him and he just had to tap the ball into the empty net for 2-0 to the Youths. Four minutes later, McHugh looked to have a good chance but Graham was able to block it away. Shane Nolan then picked up a yellow for what was called a dive by the ref. after he tried to drive into the box along the goal-line. After 27, Wexford's vulnerability in the air cost them from a corner which I think bounced inside the box but yet found McMonagle free at the far post for 2-1 to the away side. Clarkey then had an effort from outside the box tipped over and Shane had a near-post flick from a corner pushed away for 2-1 to the away side at half-time.

[ForzaForth]

Second half started slowly and, after ten, Danny got the first shot away but it went straight at Gallagher. After 15, Brian got a yellow for a tackle. McHugh took the free-kick from 30 yards out and drilled it straight inside the left-hand post for 2-2 and game on. Thought the wall looked very short at only two for a deadball specialist like McHugh. Just midway through the half, Danny found himself in the clear but Gallagher blocked his effort with his legs. Harps then put on a lot of pressure as the Youths dropped away and had a series of corners and crosses which the Youths defence found hard to clear. With fifteen to go, Glen Hawe came on for his first appearance for Deano and, with ten to go, Tom came on for Shane Nolan.

[ForzaForth]

With five minutes of normal time remaining, a Harps forward had a good chance when the ball came out to him from a rebound with Graham scrambling but he miscued it from about ten out. Immediately afterwards, a Youths defender let the ball run away from him in the box and it was knocked home by a Harps attacker for 3-2 to the home side. However, in the three minutes of injury time Wexford pushed forward and had a really good chance when it broke to an attacker free about eight out but his first-time effort was cleared off the line. Then, in the last minute of injury tome. the ball broke to Tom wide left and and he cut inside to wind up a shot with his right which was blocked by a Harps defender straight back to him. He immediately took aim again and, this time, it looped viciously off the out-stretched Harps defender's foot to finish high inside the far post for 3-3 and the Youths happy to be going home with a point.

[ForzaForth]

Best for Wexford were probably the midfield trio of Brian and Shane Nolan and Craig. Without Rocks, Youths had a problem in winning the ball in the air from any re-start all night and Shane Keegan tried to remedy this in the second period by clearly having the ball aimed at Deano. Harps were much the taller at all set-pieces and only the very floated delivery probably stopped them from gaining more rewards from that avenue. 3-3 at full-time.

[nigel-harps1954]

Good round up of what was a fantastic second half of football. Any neutrals would have thoroughly enjoyed a match like that after a dull enough first half.
Agreed that what killed Harps at set pieces was the high ball, but until we made a few subs and brought on young Gary Merritt (number 18 playing left wing), we had nobody able to take a corner.
Had rested a lot of younger players and gave some fringe players a run tonight after the under 19 team had a long week at the Foyle cup playing 5 games in 5 days but was still a cracking game of football, couple of very good goals, and great entertainment all round.

[ForzaForth]

Nigel-Harps

Yeah, great game. Thought Harps looked a bit sluggish in the first half but they definitely improved in the second. Hope you manage to hold on to your sixth place in the League!

[nigel-harps1954]

Ah yeah, we had a pretty awful first half, but the free kick from McHugh was as good a goal as I've seen in Finn Park in a few seasons now. Perfect placement.

And your second goal was a good 3 or 4 yards offside!