Finn Harps 2 - 2 Athlone Town

• Aidan O'Donnell
• Fri, Oct 01 2010


Finn Harps had to fight their way back from a horror start against Athlone Town to seal a disappointing second successive score draw in Ballybofey on Friday night.

The hosts fell two-nil behind inside the first twenty minutes as Declan O’Brien bagged a seven minute brace following a calamity of errors in the Harps defence that left them facing their first home defeat in nine games.

However, a twenty minute spell either side of half-time had the sides level going into the last half hour of the game after Stephen McLaughlin and Kevin McHugh pulled Harps level.

There was two changes to the side that were held by Wexford Youths last week with Gary Whoriskey trading places with skipper Packie Mailey in what were suspension-related swaps, and youngster Raymond Foy coming in to earn his first senior start for the club in place of Tony Shields. With Mailey out of the side, top scorer Kevin McHugh sported the captain’s armband for the evening.

If last week’s conclusion against Wexford was a lack of concentration then this week’s start was a complete and utter meltdown.

The visitors, who had only won twice on the road all season, were well on their way to the easiest three points – home or away – of their campaign after a series of errors from the Harps backline gifted them a 2-0 lead.

In what was the first attack of the game, Andy Haran provided a through ball that left Keith Cowan on the floor, allowing Declan O’Brien the chance to beat Gavin Cullen, who had raced from his line to clear.

However, after the ‘keeper lost his footing, O’Brien was afforded time and all the space in the world to walk the ball into the vacated net.

The horror start didn’t end there as O’Brien again terrorised Cullen, this time robbing the Inishowen stopper after he had took one too many touches of the ball.

Cullen, clearly shaken by his nervy start, would’ve been grateful that he wasn’t called upon for the rest of the half, as his teammates gradually assumed control of an Athlone side looking to cut the gap on their hosts to three points.

James Gallagher’s half-time team talk would’ve been made slightly easier when his side reduced arrears to one when Stephen McLaughlin clocked up what was, somewhat surprisingly, his first goal of the season.

After seeing his initial header saved by Michael Schlingerman, he was picked out by strike partner Kevin McHugh, who was quick to recycle the loose ball, and McLaughlin made no mistake from close range.

McLaughlin was then heavily involved in the equaliser five minutes after the restart when he was adjudged to have been bundled over by David Breen following a cross into the area by Crossan.

Unsurprisingly, Kevin McHugh was the player who accepted responsibility to hammer home his twelfth goal of the season in all competitions.

Both sides went at it for the final half an hour with Athlone far from overwhelmed after relinquishing their two goal advantage.

They each had shots cleared from their respective goalmouths; McHugh having an effort blocked by Stephen Relihan, while at the other end Ryan McEvoy was thwarted by Matthew Crossan.

It was Crossan, in fact, who almost stole all three points for Harps right at the death when his shot, seemingly destined for the top corner, was somehow tipped behind by the outstretched fingertips of Schlingerman.

Finn Harps: Gavin Cullen; James Doherty, Keith Cowan, Matt Crossan, Gary Whoriskey; Mark Forker, Tommy Bonner, Raymond Foy; Marc Brolly Kevin McHugh, Stephen McLaughlin. Subs: Gary Merritt (Brolly, 28 mins), Oisin McMenamin (Foy, 58 mins).

Athlone Town: Michael Schlingerman; Mark Nolan, Paddy Collins, David Breen, Eoghan O’Shea; Stephen Relihan, Denis Moran, Ryan McEvoy, Andy Haran; Declan O’Brien, Jason Hughes. Subs: Brian McCarthy (Collins, 75 mins), Kieran Maloney (Moran, 85 mins).

Referee: John Grimes (Dublin).