Finn Harps 1 - 1 Athlone Town

[atfconline]

Athlone salvage late point

Finn Harps missed out on a chance of a return to the top of the First Division table when a late goal by Ronan Frawley earned lowly Athlone Town a vital point in the eircom League clash in Ballybofey. The Donegal side paid the price for not converting their chances and then conceded only their second goal in eight league matches.

Harps were in control from early on and Niall Bonner had three shots at goal before they took a deserved lead on 20 minutes. After Tom Mohan was foulded by central defender Shane Jackson in side the area, ace marksman Kevin McHugh made no mistake with the resulting penalty.

But it was Athlone who gave Harps a real scare just after the interval when a Ger O'Brien effort flashed just wide of the target. Harps then squandered a number of clear-cut chances before the Midlanders punished them in the 81st minute when Frawley headed home a cross from Damien Rush.

Team:

Finn Harps - Young; Asokuh, Minnock D.Boyle, R.Boyle; Mohan, Kenny, Lloyd, Flannery; McHugh, Bonner. Sub. - McGrenaghan for Flannery (66 mins.).

Athlone Town - Moran, O'Brien, A.Kelly, Frawley, Jackson, Rush, Gavin, Holt, Reilly, S.Kelly, Collins. Subs. - McCann for Holt (45 mins.), Mullan for Collins (78 mins.), Harney for S.Kelly (87 mins.).

Referee - T.McAree (Donegal).

[Estar]

Thanks for taken 2 points off Harps
Hopefully we can join them on 27 points later on to day




Town dent Harps hopes



FINN HARPS 1

ATHLONE TOWN 1

FINN Harps' promotion hopes suffered a setback last night as they had to settle for a draw with lowly Athlone.

Harps went ahead on 19 minutes, when Kevin McHugh fired home a penalty after a foul on Tom Mohan by Stuart Holt. However, despite enjoying plenty of possession, they were unable to add to that goal.

Athlone deservedly drew level nine minutes from time when Ronan Frawley headed home Damien Rush's cross.

FINN HARPS - Young, Asokuh, Minnock, D Boyle, R Boyle, Mohan, Kenny, Lloyd, Flannery (McGrenaghan 65), McHugh, Bonner.

ATHLONE TOWN - Moran, O Brien, A Kelly, Frawley, Jackson, Rush, Gavin, Holt (McCann 45), Reilly, S Kelly (Harney 87), Collins (Mullan 78).

[Estar]

Report from FAI site says it was Jackson who gave away the penalty.
Harps even had their own Ref and couldn't win!

Athlone salvage late point

Finn Harps missed out on a chance of a return to the top of the First Division table when a late goal by Ronan Frawley earned lowly Athlone Town a vital point in the eircom League clash in Ballybofey. The Donegal side paid the price for not converting their chances and then conceded only their second goal in eight league matches.

Harps were in control from early on and Niall Bonner had three shots at goal before they took a deserved lead on 20 minutes. After Tom Mohan was foulded by central defender Shane Jackson in side the area, ace marksman Kevin McHugh made no mistake with the resulting penalty.

But it was Athlone who gave Harps a real scare just after the interval when a Ger O'Brien effort flashed just wide of the target. Harps then squandered a number of clear-cut chances before the Midlanders punished them in the 81st minute when Frawley headed home a cross from Damien Rush.

Team:

Finn Harps - Young; Asokuh, Minnock D.Boyle, R.Boyle; Mohan, Kenny, Lloyd, Flannery; McHugh, Bonner. Sub. - McGrenaghan for Flannery (66 mins.).

Athlone Town - Moran, O'Brien, A.Kelly, Frawley, Jackson, Rush, Gavin, Holt, Reilly, S.Kelly, Collins. Subs. - McCann for Holt (45 mins.), Mullan for Collins (78 mins.), Harney for S.Kelly (87 mins.).

Referee - T.McAree (Donegal).

[LFC in Exile]

Well done Athlone - great result for the other teams in the top half of the table. Now if only Kilkenny can do us a favour too - but I won't hold my breath on that one.

[Oh No]

Four defenders:
O'Brien, A.Kelly, Frawley, Jackson, (Shine on the bench???? and where was Hope-maybe still injured)

and five midfielders:
Rush, Gavin, Holt, S.Kelly, Collins (Harney should be in for Rush!!!!!!!).

one forward: Reilly - and the two regular forwards on the bench!!!!!!!!!!

OK, we got a reasonable result but all defensive minded, how are we going to win games with this formation and selection????

Jimmy, think about it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

[atfconline]

Well to be fair Oh No, Harps had the best scoring record in the Division before Galway put four past Monaghan last night, and by far the best defence. For a team that hadn't scored a goal in four games or whatever it was, this was hardly a game where our strikers were going to run riot.

Only two teams have taken a point off Harps in Ballybofey this season, and if you cast your mind back to the corresponding fixture last season, we were thrashed 4-0.

I was talking to Jimmy this morning to check on injuries etc, and asked him about hte game. He said he went with the 4-5-1 to try and contain them for the first half, which we did, and was disappointed with the penalty, because we were doing such a good job keeping them at bay.

He brought on both McCann and Mullin in the second half, so we had three strikers on at the end, surely thats fairly attacking minded?

[Oh No]

We need to win games. We should be approaching every match with a more positive approach. The 4-5-1 formation is silly and is geared only to keep the score down. Jimmy wouldn't have put on McCann at half time only we were a goal down and Mullin was only on for the last few minutes.

Let's be more positive and run with a few changes in defence and midfield and with a 4-4-2 formation.

I'v already made my views known on what I see as changes needed.