Finn Harps 3 - 2 Salthill Devon

• Alan Foley
• Fri, Aug 20 2010


Chris Breen was the Finn Harps hero as they came from behind to grab all three points against a lively but lowly Salthill Devon side at Finn Park on Friday night.

Having rejoined his local club after spending the best part of two years travelling the southern hemisphere, Breen was sprung from the bench for what was his first appearance on Navenny Street in 21 months with the score tied at 2-2 and scored the vital goal on 76 minutes.

The win completed a decent turnaround for the Ballybofey club, who had to feel their way into the game following a poor opening half hour or so. Salthill’s Irish schoolboys international Daryl Horgan fired the Galway team into an 18th minute lead and although they almost added a second, it was the hosts, through goals from Kevin McHugh and Tommy Bonner that went in at the interval a goal to the good.

Emlyn Long’s young table-cropping Salthill team were tidy in possession on the floor, especially in the final third, but that had to act as some sort of measure of compensation as the rearguard suffered numerous problems from the high balls and corner kicks.

However, Mikey Gilmore managed to grab an equaliser for the visitors five minutes after the restart before Breen won it late on for Harps, although there was a hint of controversy about Harps’ second and third goals.

Horgan shot Salthill into lead with an excellent breakway goal. Sean Murphy found Ciprian Straut down the line and he squared to Victor Collins. Horgan was supporting from the inside right channel and when found with James Doherty and Packie Mailey caught upfield, he placed the ball past Gavin Cullen. Harps, already beaten at home by another Galway outfit in the form of Mervue United this term, were staring down the barrel once more. Within a minute, Horgan almost added a second from a cross by Gilmore, only to see his volley come off the inside of the post. From the rebound, Mailey blasted the ball off Gilmore and was certainly a tad fortunate to see it fly wide of his own goal.

Salthill discomforts from all things aerial became apparent on 34 minutes when McHugh stabbed home from a close range scramble following a corner from Gary Whoriskey that Ronan Forde in the Salthill goal could only flap at. Stephen McLaughlin saw a shot blocked in the crowded area before McHugh steered home from seven yards.

Then, three minutes later, there was a great one-handed save from Forde as atonement from a cute dipping header from Davitt Walsh after Cullen's routine clearance split the whole Salthill defence asunder with simplicity.

Following the resultant corner, another in-swinger from Whoriskey, Bonner headed goalwards and although Collins hooked the ball away, referee Phil Cascera glanced at his assistant who signalled that the ball had crossed the line.

On 50 minutes, Bonner should've made it 3-1 when he missed a glorious chance from Mark Brolly's deft touch and centre when he shot right at Forde with the goal yawning at his mercy and from the resultant attack Mickey Gilmore made Harps pay when he got in behind James Doherty and curled in an equaliser from the edge of the box as the momentum swung once again.

Harps pressed but didn’t pepper for the lead goal, but 14 minutes from time they got their noses in front again from another contentious decision of was it or wasn't it over the line. Breen, prodded the ball goalward after Forde flaps at a Brolly cross and although Salthill claimed it hadn’t crossed the line, assistant Terence Moyne flagged for the goal. Salthill substitute Mike Quirke was then sent off by referee Phil Caschera for having too much to say on the matter and Harps were in front again. And this time, they would hold it to the finish to put them in good stead ahead of their first ever FAI Cup clash with neighbours and rivals Sligo Rovers next Friday.

Finn Harps: Gavin Cullen; James Doherty, Matthew Crossan, Packie Mailey, Gary Whoriskey; Stephen McLaughlin, Tony Shields, Tommy Bonner; Kevin McHugh, Davitt Walsh.
Subs: Chris Breen for Walsh (64), Forker for McLaughlin (68), Oisin McMenamin for Shields (83).

Salthill Devon: Ronan Forde; Paddy Quinlan, Brian Geraghty, James Whelan, Sean Murphy; Daryl Horgan, Robbie Porter, Cian McBrien, Mickey Gilmore; Ciprian Straut, Victor Collins.
Subs: Mike Quirke for Murphy (53), Mike Kennedy for Collins (75), Gerry Burke for Straut.

Referee: Phil Caschera.