GARY DELANEY’S 85th minute goal has, all of a sudden, seriously tightened things in the lower half of the Premier Division.
Finn Harps 0 Wexford Youths 1
Delaney’s header, just when Harps looked as if they’d done enough for what would have been a precious share of the spoils, gives Wexford a win that takes them to within eight points of Harps.
A free-kick by Jonny Bonner, the Buncrana man who spent two spells at Harps, was deliciously swerved towards the back post and Keenan ghosted in to plant a header beyond Richard Brush.
Harps went for broke, but Ryan Curran saw one effort deflected over and Ruairi Keating glanced a header that just evaded the stretching Barry Molloy at the far post.
[adrotate group=”43″]Harps manager Ollie Horgan had made no secret of the importance of this game during the week when he stated that it was ‘as big as it’s been’ for his side this season.
That feeling was heightened with the Harps medical team patching Ciaran Coll up to take his sentry at left-back a little earlier than had been anticipated.
The return of the St Johnston man was one of four changes to the Harps side from the side beaten by Bray Wanderers a fortnight ago in The Carlisle Grounds.
[adrotate group=”50″]Raymond Foy and Curran were back in from the off and a first start was handed to Keating since his latest move to Finn Park earlier this month.
Both teams were forced into a change in the eighth minute when Damien McNulty and Danny Ledwith had to be replaced after a coming together that ended their participation.
Aidan Friel, Wexford’s early replacement, teed up Andy Mulligan for the first opening of note on the half-hour, but Mulligan’s attempt flew well wide of Richard Brush’s target.
Whatever goalmouth incident did occur in the first half, the visitors had the better of it.
Danny Furlong, a real thorn in the Harps side in recent seasons, beat the offside trap on 36 minutes and managed to get a shot away, but the retreating rearguard got back to block.
Stephen Last also went close with a header after he rose to direct a corner towards the Harps goal, but it cannoned off Ruairi Keating and Brush was able to pluck it from the sky.
Sean Houston, who has been in a rich vein of form lately, forced a save from Graham Doyle early in the second half and Harps had Brush to thank for keeping them on level terms on the hour.
Ethan Boyle, who came in early for McNulty, was guilty of a foul on Mulligan at the left-hand side of the Harps area. Mulligan curled a teasing left-footed shot around the wall, but Brush turned it away.
[adrotate group=”46″]Keating danced inside Lee Grace and curled wide with Harps looking to up the ante for the closing 15 minutes.
When Doyle parried from Raymond Foy’s attempt, Keating couldn’t steer the follow-up on target and, in search of a winner, Harps sent on veteran attacker Kevin McHugh.
Finn Harps: Richard Brush; Damien McNulty (Ethan Boyle 7), Keith Cowan, Packie Mailey, Ciaran Coll; Adam Hanlon (Michael Funston 73), Raymond Foy (Kevin McHugh 84), Barry Molloy, Sean Houston; Ryan Curran; Ruairi Keating.
Wexford Youths: Graham Doyle; Craig McCabe, Gary Delaney, Stephen Last, Lee Grace; Shane Dunne, Chris Kenny, Jonny Bonner (Shane Dempsey 90), Danny Ledwith (Aidan Friel 7); Andy Mulligan (Aidan Keenan 76), Danny Furlong,
Referee: Ray Matthews (Mullingar).
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