FINN HARPS MIGHT’VE started the new season with a bang but tonight they’re up against the champions, Dundalk, at Oriel Park. We’ll be following the action live.
Full-time view:
Ollie Horgan will be unhappy with the concession of at least two of the goals but all in all the result wasn’t totally unexpected against the back to back SSE Airtricity League Premier Division champions.
Dundalk are an excellent side and one that have now lost just once in 46 games. For Harps in 2016, it’s all about survival. Every so often they’re going to get well-beaten but it’s how they react from those losses that will be paramount to their chances of staying in the division. Not a great night at Oriel Park but it could’ve been worse.
FULL-TIME – DUNDALK 3-0 FINN HARPS
90+1 mins – Ciaran Coll is on a stretcher and being taken off. There’s going to be six minutes added on here.
86 mins – Time petering out with Dundalk in possession.
82 mins – What Finn Harps would like now is the fourth official to signal for injury time, to hold up a board with “-8” on it. All Dundalk now – still only in third gear – but Harps are keeping the score somewhat credible. DFC 3-0 FHFC
79 mins – Almost a fourth goal for Daryl Horgan, who curls just over the angle of post and crossbar. Nice effort. DFC 3-0 FHFC
78 mins – Matthew Crossan and Kevin McHugh are on for Gareth Harkin and Ryan Curran
75 mins – GOAL FOR DUNDALK
It’s now 3-0 and it looks like an own goal from Ryan Curran. A corner from Daryl Horgan was poorly defended again and it made it’s way to the back post without ever being dealt with and trickled over the line after a deflection or two. DFC 3-0 FHFC
72 mins – Richard Brush makes a save as he stands his ground as Patrick McElaney tries to lift a lob over him. Ciaran Kilduff has gone off and on comes David McMillan for the hosts. DFC 2-0 FHFC
69 mins – John Mountney is on for Darren Meenan for Dundalk
67 mins – Liam Flatley is on for Adam Hanlon of Harps
Finn Harps’ goalkeeper Richard Brush showing why he is the best No 73 in LOI with a fine reaction save to stop Damien McNulty scoring an og.
— Owen Cowzer (@OCowzer) March 11, 2016
58 mins – GOAL FOR DUNDALK
Patrick McElaney steers home a fine second goal. Dane Massey got down the left and pulled back towards the penalty spot. Well-finished by the former Derry City winger, who was running onto the ball. His first goal for his new club. DFC 2-0 FHFC
56 mins -Good save from Ricard Brush from Damien McNulty! The Harps defender put in an important tackle to deny Ciaran Kilduff. Moments after, a shot from Ronan Finn flies just over. DFC 1-0 FHFC
52 mins – First meaningful effort for Harps, who have certainly improved after the break. After Adam Hanlon and Dave Scully combine down the left, the ball eventually makes its way to Ryan Curran, with two defenders at his back. Curran turns and gets a good connection on it and it flies a couple of yards wide. DFC 1-0 FHFC
Here’s the view from the stand.
48 mins – Decent start to the second half for the away team. Michael Funston has a shot from the edge of the area that’s easily gathered by Gary Rogers. DFC 1-0 FHFC
46 mins – And they’re off.
The teams are back here out at Oriel Park. No changes.
First half view:
Ollie Horgan tends to be balanced when he looks at things so we might try that. On the plus side his side are still in the contest as they trail 1-0 and although Richard Brush has made a handful of saves, the pressure hasn’t been as high as some might’ve predicted.
On the other hand, Horgan would’ve known his team were facing an uphill task keeping up with their illustrious rivals on the artificial pitch. However, Horgan would’ve been peeved to see Paddy Barrett win two free headers from Darren Meenan dead-balls, one of which he scored. From another Meenan dead ball delivery in first-half injury time, Patrick McElaney headed against the post.
Finn Harps holding their own so far against Dundalk despite being 1-0 down. #loi
— No Problemo (@MrMovieGame) March 11, 2016
HALF-TIME – DUNDALK 1-0 FINN HARPS
46+1 mins – Let-off! Patrick McElaney glances a header off the post following softly flighted free-kick into the area Darren Meenan. Everyone stood and watched as the ball came back off the upright. It’s the last action of the half. DFC 1-0 FHFC
42 mins – Harps have improved towards the end of the half. They’re still perhaps 75-25 behind on the possession stakes but find themselves just one down. DFC 1-0 FHFC
Ethan Boyle becomes 500th player to play for Finn Harps in LOI beats Brush due to alphabetical order ?
— Finn Harps FC (@FinnHarpsFC) March 11, 2016
39 mins – Another profitable escapade for Dundalk down the right as Sean Gannon and Darren Meenan interact. Corner is won but comes to nothing. DFC 1-0 FHFC
36 mins – Sean Gannon of Dundalk wins a corner off Ciaran Coll. It eventually breaks to Chris Shields on the edge of the box and his shot is well hit, although straight at Richard Brush. DFC 1-0 FHFC
There’s a Scottish TV football comedy called ‘Only an Excuse’ which is kinda their version of ‘Apres Match’. On it years ago it was claimed that the pitches were too good for Scotland ever to do well at the World Cup. They proposed “astro-mud” – it was essentially to mucky the pitch. Ollie Horgan might concur here on the astroturf at Oriel Park when he compares this week to last. But his side have done better in the last few minutes and would be on terms but for that poor defending from the corner on 16 minutes.
27 mins – Ciaran Kilduff’s cross from the right for Dundalk was met on the head of Ronan Finn, who couldn’t keep it down. DFC 1-0 FHFC
Perhaps the size of the task here is that Robbie Benson was a player who was described by Ollie Horgan – on more than one occasion last year – as “the best player in the First Division.” Tonight, the former UCD player is a sub for Dundalk.
24 mins – Yellow card from Damien McNulty.
23 mins – From a free into the area by Adam Hanlon, the ball eventually broke to Ryan Curran, who controlled well but his effort was blocked by two Dundalk defenders. DFC 1-0 FHFC
Deputising for Brian Gartland in one ways than one, Paddy Barratt’s glancing header has Dundalk in front here. They’ve dominated thus far.
19 mins – Harps didn’t learn their lesson. From another dead ball delivery from Darren Meenan, this time a free kick from the right, Paddy Barrett breaks the offside trap but his header is well wide. DFC 1-0 FHFC
Leading to the corner, Daryl Horgan had warmed the fingers of Richard Brush in the Harps goal with the stinging shot from the edge of the area. DFC 1-0 FHFC
GOAL FOR DUNDALK
16 mins – Too easy. Paddy Barrett runs unchallenged to glance a header from Darren Meenan in off the back post. The run was not picked up. DFC 1-0 FHFC
Ciaran Gallagher is missing out due to work commitments. Confirmed. We’ll have more on that after the game but Richard Brush has made his first save – a routine one from Dane Massey. DFC 0-0 FHFC
6 mins – We’re six minutes in here at Oriel Park and Dundalk have created the best opening with Sean Gannon, the right-back, getting to the byline and pulling back but Damien McNulty lumped clear. DFC 0-0 FHFC
Dundalk: Gary Rogers; Sean Gannon, Andy Boyle, Paddy Barrett, Shane Grimes; Dane Massey; Darren Meenan, Ronan Finn, Dane Massey, Daryl Horgan; Patrick McEleney; Ciaran Kilduff.
Harps subs: Kevin McHugh, Tony McNamee, Matthew Crossan, Tommy McMonagle, Ryan McConnell, Tommy Lee McCarrnon, Liam Flatley.
The big team news tonight is that Richard Brush is making his Finn Harps debut, as the former Sligo Rovers netminder is replacing Ciaran Gallagher in goal.
More on that one when we hear it. Gallagher is not on the bench – Tommy Lee McCarron is.
Finn Harps: Richard Brush; Ethan Boyle, Damien McNulty, Keith Cowan, Ciaran Coll; Adam Hanlon, Michael Funston, Raymond Foy, Gareth Harkin, Dave Scully; Ryan Curran.
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