Derry City 2 - 2 Finn Harps

• Aidan O'Donnell
• Fri, Oct 22 2010


FINN Harps done all that could possibly have been asked of them by holding league-leaders Derry City to a fascinating draw at the Brandywell on Friday night that should, in all likelihood, see the First Division title race go right down to the wire.

In a blistering first-half, Harps found themselves twice in front thanks to a stunning brace from full-back Matthew Crossan, only to be hauled back by the Candy Stripes on each occasion.

The point for Derry leaves the door wide open for Monaghan United to close the gap at the summit when they play Mervue United tomorrow night at Terryland Park. A win for Mick Cooke’s side would mean just a point separate the top two heading into next week’s mouth-watering encounter at Gortakeegan.

Stephen Kenny kept faith with the side that walloped Salthill Devon in Galway last week, while visiting manager James Gallagher made just the one alteration to the side that defeated Cork, with Oisin McMenamin coming in for Davitt Walsh.

In what was arguably the most anticipated north-west derby since the promotion/relegation play-off of 2003, where Derry retained their top flight status with a thrilling extra-time win, only three players survived from that historic night – Mark Farren, Eddie McCallion and Kevin McHugh.

In the penultimate weekend in the calendar season, the first half was the most electric forty-five minutes any League of Ireland game will witness all year with Harps twice steering clear only to be hauled back on both occasions by their hosts.

Within the space of two minuets both sides were presented with great chances to make the breakthrough inside the opening ten minutes. First, Stephen McLaughlin glanced a header inches over the crossbar from a Marc Brolly corner, while at the other end, Packie Mailey denied Mark Farren with a brilliant block after James McClean's cross was knocked back into the mixer by Stephen Parkhouse.

On thirteen minutes, however, the deadlock was broken after Daniel Lafferty tumbled Stephen McLaughlin some twenty-five yards from goal. Left-back Matthew Crossan accepted responsibility and, after his initial attempt was blocked by the Derry wall, the former Derry man side-stepped the inevitable block down before drilling past the helpless Gerard Doherty to silence the boisterous home crowd.

That lull in acoustics didn’t last too long, however, as Derry drew level just two minutes after going behind. After picking up possession thirty yards from goal, Patrick McEleney weaved his way past countless challenges, inside and outside the box, before hammering high into the far corner past Gavin Cullen.

The frantic start didn’t end there, as Harps went back ahead just before the twenty minute mark. Stephen McLaughlin again drew the foul, this time from Barry Molloy, and more or less in the exact same position as six minutes before. On this occasion, however, Crossan only needed the one attempt to beat Doherty – the defender producing the most calculated shots that left Doherty scrambling up beside the top corner.

As was fast becoming the norm, Derry hit back not quite instantaneously, but damn near it. It was completely avoidable from a Harps point of view with Michael Funston gifting the hosts a free-kick roughly thirty yards from goal. And after Patrick McEleney’s resulting effort bounced up awkwardly off the rain-soaked turf, the ‘keeper failed to hold and Mark Farren was perfectly placed to head home a second equaliser in less than fifteen minutes for the Foylesider’s.

As the first gradually ebbed to a close it allowed both spectators and players alike to gather their breath. However, as the second ticked away with no chances arriving for either side, it was clear Harps were a bit more content to sit and soak-up whatever was need to, which strangely wasn’t much. The final ball for Derry, and even the first, was not of the quality we have come to expect of this side, as nerves were possibly coming into the equation.

With about fifteen minutes to go, the hosts finally picked the pace up once more with Mailey again on hand to smother a loose ball, while Mark Farren looked a certainty to convert home from close range after a brilliant run and cross from Patrick McEleney teed him up perfectly.

Surprisingly, the onslaught never arrived in the closing stages and Harps were able to coast over the line and gain what will be, for them, a famous point by the Foyle.

Derry City: Gerard Doherty; Eddie McCallion, Mark McChrystal, Shane McEleney, Daniel Lafferty; Patrick McEleney, Barry Molloy, Ruairi Harkin, James McClean; Mark Farren, Stephen Parkhouse.
Subs: Darren McCauley (Harkin, 73 mins), David McDaid (Parkhouse, 81 mins), Darren Cassidy (Lafferty, 88 mins).

Finn Harps: Gavin Cullen; James Doherty, Packie Mailey, Keith Cowan, Matthew Crossan; Stephen McLaughlin, Mark Forker, Michael Funston, Marc Brolly; Oisin McMenamin, Kevin McHugh.
Subs: Davitt Walsh (McMenamin, 74 mins), Tommy Bonner (Funston, 85 mins), Gary Whoriskey (Brolly, 90 mins).

Referee: Paul McLaughlin.