League Report: Finn Harps 2 - 2 UCD

The resolve that has formed the bloodline of Finn Harps’ season was evident at Finn Park once again on Friday night as the Ballybofey club set a new club record.

Never before had Harps gone 12 unbeaten from the start of a season but Kevin McHugh’s equaliser against UCD created a little bit of history, surpassing their 11 match streaks without defeat in 1972/73 and 1983/84.

When Ollie Horgan, the Harps manager, was made aware of the statistics during the week he expressed his disinterest in such historics, stating the current season’s total was all that mattered.

And by the conclusion after another ding-dong battle - one in which either side could’ve won - Harps ended up extending their lead at the top of the table to seven points.

Twice the home side trailed and twice they forced their way back into the contest. Jack Watson and Robbie Benson fired the visitors in front on two occasions in the second half, only for Ruairí Keating and McHugh to restore parity.

Second-placed Wexford Youths, who were 2-0 up on Athlone Town, saw their fixture abandoned at Ferrycarrig Park at half-time after the generator powering the floodlights failed to restart as it caught fire.

When Watson’s beautifully weighted lob over Ciaran Gallagher silenced Finn Park on 57 minutes the last unbeaten run in the SSE Airtricity League Division One looked as though it was about to fall. The UCD midfielder ghosted in behind the Harps defence following a precise ball around the corner by Ryan McLaughlin.

Watson’s number was literally on the board of fourth official Michael Connolly and despite his goal, the substitution was made. Still, it was as good a way as any to finish for Watson.

Nine minutes later, Harps, who weren’t at their best until that point, manufactured an equaliser to inflate their hopes. From an innocuous diagonal ball from Damien McNulty, Keating was the only man on the field alive to the chance and he glanced a header past goalkeeper Niall Corbet from 12 yards.

With Harps having scored late to win each of their last two games, there was a sense of belief again, especially when 35-year-old Kevin McHugh was summoned from the substitutes’ bench on 69 minutes. However, the threat that UCD possessed all night was still there and when Samir Belhout sent a deep ball into the Harps half, it was Benson who held off McNulty to score past Gallagher. Again, for a moment, a pin could be heard drop in the Twin Towns.

Harps, though, have painted themselves into corners this season and manage to emerge without a lick on them and five minutes from time, McHugh rose highest to head a corner from Raymond Foy home. It was the club captain’s 180th goal for Harps.

Then, in injury time, a free from McHugh with half of Donegal and south Dublin in the UCD box, was headed inches wide of the post. It would’ve been a dramatic winner for Harps; although an underserved loss for Students.

The first half was relatively incident free in comparison to the second. Gallagher was called into action on the ninth minute when, following a free-kick from Benson that struck Michael Funston in the Harps defensive wall, Michael Leahy’s stinging shot was stopped by a firm hand from the hosts’ goalkeeper.

Funston’s 17th minute half-volley from all of 35 yards after a corner from Foy was headed clear was incredibly well hit. Funston, the Harps midfielder, who opened the scoring in the respective 3-2 wins over Waterford United and then Cobh Ramblers, leant back and struck with the outside of his right boot only to see the effort fade wide of Corbet’s goal.

UCD, unbeaten in seven themselves, were more than a match for the league leaders in the opening half. Gallagher charged from his goal in an attempt to intercept a through ball from Watson that ran a little farther than many expected and was relieved to see Conor Cannon unable to fashion a shot at goal. The run on the ball had maybe caught the Harps goalkeeper out, just as it would do in opposite circumstances in the second half.

It was one of a few uncomfortable moments suffered by the Harps rearguard, who were without the injured Ciaran Coll and the suspended Keith Cowan, as the half bore to a conclusion.

It was Wilfried Tagbo, on the stroke of half-time, who created an opportunity for Keating and the Sligo Rovers loanee twisted and turned and got his shot on target; headed for the bottom corner only from Corbet to get down low to save well.

The last time the sides met, on Good Friday at Belfield, everyone went home reasonably content with a 2-2 draw. Twice Harps trailed, with Leahy and Jamie Doyle on target, only to restore parity on two occasions thanks to strikes from Tagbo and McHugh.

Few would’ve predicted a repeat following a scoreless first half. But a repeat is exactly what happened.

Finn Harps: Ciaran Gallagher; Josh Mailey, Damien McNulty, Matthew Crossan, Tommy McMonagle; Michael Funston, Raymond Foy, Gareth Harkin (Tony McNamee 82), Regan Donelon; Wilfried Tagbo (Kevin McHugh 69), Ruairí Keating.
Subs Not Use: Tommy Lee McCarron (gk), Jordan Toland, Packie Mailey, Garbhan Friel.

Booked: McNulty (9), Crossan (88), Funston (90+2).

UCD: Niall Corbet; Mark Langty, Michael Leahy, Tomas Boyle, Ryan McLaughlin; Samir Belhour, Robbie Benson, Dylan Watts, Jack Watson (Gary O’Neill 57), Jamie Doyle; Conor Cannon (Chris Mulhall 74).
Subs Not Used: Sean Coyne, Adam Harney, Eoin Kirwan, Conor Mackey, Ian Ryan.

Booked: Belhout (51), McLaughlin (77), Mulhall (90+2).

Referee: Eoghan O’Shea.

Attendance: 1,155.