Finn Harps 1 - 2 Limerick FC

• Diarmaid Doherty
• Sat, Aug 13 2011


Courtesy of the Donegal Democrat.

High-flying Limerick brought an end to Finn Harps’ run of wins with an impressive victory at Finn Park on Saturday night.

Denis Behan was the match winner – his wonderful free kick just before the hour was worthy of winning any contest. The striker’s thunderbolt from fully 30 yards was still rising when it crashed into the net past Harps keeper, Ciaran Gallagher.

It was a disappointing result for the home side who made no less than five changes from the team that beat Mervue last weekend. They played well in spells but overall, it was the visitors who dictated much of this game and they deserved their victory.

With Everton star, Seamus Coleman among the crowd, this was a game that served up plenty of entertainment and talking points – particularly in the first half. Aside from two goals, there were chances aplenty at both ends and a missed penalty just before the break. Marc Brolly brought down Peter Hynes inside the area but Shane Tracy’s well placed spot kick was brilliantly stopped by Ciaran Gallagher.

Treacy had fired Limerick in front on 10 minutes, shooting in past Gallagher from long distance after being set up by Rory Gaffney. Denis Behan and Gaffney both had shots saved by the Harps keeper as the visitors enjoyed the better of things early on. But against the run of play, the Donegal side drew level on 24 minutes.

Brolly’s free went straight into the wall but from the rebound, the Harps winger’s follow-up took a wicked deflection and spun in past the stunned Barry Ryan for the equaliser. The Limerick keeper made up for that error with two brilliant saves to deny Blaine Curtis and then Stephen O’Donnell before the half finished with that missed penalty from Treacy.

Promotion-chasing Limerick made a couple of changes right at the start of the second half and those substitutions sparked them back into life. They created a number of good situations before eventually regaining the lead thanks to Behan’s spectacular effort.

Pat Purcell saw a header hacked off the line by Ciaran Coll and Peter Hynes should have made it 3-1 when he failed to find the target after racing clear near the finish. But despite the introduction of Kevin McHugh from the bench, Harps never looked like forcing a second equaliser and Limerick comfortably held out to take the win.

Finn Harps: Ciaran Gallagher; Paddy McLaughlin, Ciaran Coll, Peter Hutton (Martin Redmond 44), Keith Cowan; Aaron McElwee, Kevin Devaney, Thomas Bonner (Gary Curran 72), Marc Brolly; Stephen O’Donnell, Blaine Curtis (Kevin McHugh 67).
Subs not used: Gary Merritt, Barry O’Mahoney, Christopher Patton, Mark McGoldrick.

Limerick FC: Barry Ryan; Shaun Kelly, Corrie Treacy, Brian McCarthy, Pat Purcell; Joe Gamble, Rory Gaffney, Shane Tracy (David O’Leary 48), Paudie Quinn (Sean Brosnan 55); Denis Behan, Peter Hynes (Jeffrey Judge 77).
Subs not used: Shane Cusack, Garvan Broughall, Peter White, Garbhann Coughlan.

Referee: Paul McLaughlin.