FINN HARPS UNDER-19s let a two-goal lead slip and bowed out of the Enda McGuill Cup at the hands of Galway United this evening.
Finn Harps Under-19s 2 Galway United 3
Kealan McDermott’s opener and Simon McGlynn’s penalty in the second half had Joe Boyle’s team destined for the next round, only for the Tribesmen to hit back with venom.
Andrew Connolly’s free kick was given as a goal following some debate and Ciaran Nugent forced extra time with a 93rd minute equaliser with Aaron Conway netting the winner in the extra period.
[adrotate group=”43″]Harps came into this one in good form, but it was Galway who began the brighter with Nugent firing over and Gary Kinneen denied by Harps ‘keeper Anthony O’Hagan after latching onto Ciaran Buckley’s cross.
Harps were awarded a penalty on 20 minutes when Paul Ferry was fouled by Mikey Whelan, but Gareth Doherty’s tamely-hit spot-kick was saved by Kevin Horgan.
Harps could have fallen behind when Aaron Conway’s header across goal for Buckley was thwarted by an important headed clearance by Mark Coyle.
[adrotate group=”50″]Connolly lacked conviction when he spun and shot while Ferry intervened to halt the advances of Kinneen before Harps hit the front on 39 minutes.
The impressive Declan Sharkey fed the overlapping Ferry and his centre was smashed home by McDermott from 10 yards.
Sharkey twice went close to doubling the lead, chipping wide after getting on the end of a long ball and then crashing a free-kick off the Galway crossbar on the blow of half-time.
[adrotate group=”38″]Harps had to wait until the 76th minute for their second. Sam Murphy played in Luke Nelis, who was hacked down by Nugent and McGlynn coolly converted the penalty.
Harps, at that stage, were on their way. Or so it seemed.
Eight minutes form the end, Connolly’s free went past O’Hagan, but amid confusion the linesman Packie Coll flagged the effort wide. However, after a consultation between the officials, referee Paul Duddy – rightly – awarded the goal.
Harps were rocked when Nugent bundled over the line after Conway kept a chance alive from a corner.
[adrotate group=”37″]Yet, there was still time for Sharkey to try and win it, but a belting effort was pushed onto the post by Horgan.
The fingertips of O’Hagan came to Harps’ rescue early in extra time as he kept out Colm O’Walsh-Loughlin’s shot, but the winner arrived as Kinneen’s cross looped past the stranded O’Hagan and Conway nodded home.
Finn Harps: Anthony O’Hagan, Paul Ferry, Luke Nelis (Ryan Finn 99), Ciaran Kelly, Oisin Hassett (Paul McDermott half-time), Kealan McDermott, Mark Coyle, Gareth Doherty (Nathan Clifford half-time), Sam Murphy (Ryan Cunningham 83), Declan Sharkey, Simon McGlynn (Aaron McCready 80).
Galway United: Kevin Horgan, Tommy McLeen, Mikey Whelan, Maurice Nugent, Aaron Conway, Dara Mulgannon (Conor Hish 71), Ciaran Nugent (Colm O’Walsh-Loughlin 61), Ciaran Buckley (Rob Spelman 65), Andrew Connolly, Josh Marversly, Gary Kinneen.
Referee: Paul Duddy.
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