FINN HARPS MADE it three wins from three in the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division with a narrow victory over Galway United this evening.
Finn Harps 1-0 Galway United
Since their 1-0 reversal in the FAI Cup against Crumlin United in May, Ollie Horgan’s side have now managed to pick up 10 points from 12 in the top flight, with a 1-1 draw with Shamrock Rovers being followed by a 3-0 success against Sligo Rovers and then a 2-0 defeat of Longford Town.
Photo caption: Finn Harps goalkeeper Richard Brush grabs a loose ball ahead of teammate Thomas McMonagle and Galway United’s Colm Horgan in tonight’s SSE Airtricity League Premier Division clash at Finn Park. Photo: Gary Foy
Tonight, against his native Galway with Paul Hegarty at his side as assistant manager for the first time, Ollie Horgan saw his side dig in before scoring a goal through Sean Houston from the best move of the match some 20 minutes from time.
[adrotate group=”76″]Houston, who scored twice against Sligo last month in Harps’ last home game, was again the man in the right place at the right time when he arrived late in the penalty area to tuck home a Josh Mailey centre. Tony McNamee and Dave Scully had been involved in the build-up.
Galway came within a whisker of an equaliser just three minutes later when Colm Horgan smacked off the base of the post from the edge of the box following a lay-off from Vinny Faherty.
[adrotate group=”50″]The first half was scant on chances.
It was Galway who shaded that first 45 minutes, although they were far from dominant. The closest anyone came to breaking the deadlock was on 32 minutes, when Thomas McMonagle gave away possession with a pass from the back.
Jose Garcia set Faherty free down the right and with options inside – particularly Padraic Cunningham – the pull-back looked as though it was about to create the opening goal only for McMonagle to appear from nowhere and atone his original error.
[adrotate group=”38″]However, the second half opened brighter and although chances weren’t overly frequent, it was more of a spectacle. Twenty minutes from time the breakthrough finally arrived.
Harps were tight defensively and Richard Brush in goal dealt competently with all that came his way. At the other end former Harps netminder Winn wasn’t overly busy but Harps took the chance when it came thanks to Houston’s fourth goal of the campaign.
Finn Harps: Ricard Brush; Damien McNulty, Keith Cowan, Thomas McMonagle, Josh Mailey; Adam Hanlon, Barry Molloy, Sean Houston, Tony McNamee (Raymond Foy 80); Ryan Curran (Ruairi Keating 69), Dave Scully (Kevin McHugh 87).
Galway United: Conor Winn; Killian Cantwell (Garty Shanahan 78), Paul Sinnott, Stephen Folan, Stephen Walsh; Colm Horgan, Jose Garcia, Ryan Connolly, Kevin Devaney; Padraic Cunningham (Enda Curran 75), Vinny Faherty.
Referee: Rob Rogers.
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