- Stuart Connolly
- Sat, Mar 23 2024
Stuart Connolly reports from Finn Park
Finn Harps picked up their second clean sheet in four games and remain in third place in the standings after picking up a point at home to Kerry, who held out the opposition for the first time this campaign.
Success Edogun had the best opportunity of the game cleared off the line while Antonio Tuta made a number of stops to thwart his former side in a goalless draw at Finn Park.
Kerry were quick out of the blocks and tested the home defence within 60 seconds. Ryan Kelliher forced a textbook block out of Matthew Makinson while Victor Edeze had an effort roll into the grasp of Tim Heimer a few minutes later.
Harps responded well and only a superb clearance kept the hosts from taking an early lead.
Success Edogun raced onto a through ball from Tony McNamee and lifted the ball over the oncoming Tuta and wheeled away to celebrate only for Samuel Aladesanusi to thwart him at the last second.
The names that popped up most often during the remainder of the half were Patrick Ferry and Antonio Tuta.
Ferry had two big opportunities during the first-half with his first deflected narrowly wide while the second on the cusp of half-time was instinctively parried away by Tuta at point blank range.
Tuta had tipped an effort from Shane McMonagle onto the crossbar just a few minutes earlier.
Kerry were forced to sit back during the opening stages of the second-half as Harps whipped in corner after corner. Tuta was in the thick of it again as he caught a number of those corners and also saved an effort on goal from Jamie Watson.
Neither side could find that golden touch in the final third and the game petered out as the minutes ticked away. Udeze and Edogun had late efforts fizz beyond the goal while Ronan Teahan stung the palms of Heimer from distance in the final minutes.
Kerry had the last big opportunity of the night deep into stoppage time but Cian Brosnan rushed his shot and fired wide of the target.
Finn Harps: Tim-Oliver Heimer; Jamie Watson, Conor Tourish, Matthew Makinson, Shane McMonagle; David Cawley, Tony McNamee, Max Hutchison(Stephen Doherty 42), Luke O'Brien(Sean O'Donnell 65), Patrick Ferry(Chris Lotefa 82); Success Edogun.
Subs not used: Ronan Callaghan, Ryan Rainey, Darragh Coyle, Max Johnston, Adam Duffy.
Booked: Matthew Makinson (66), Chris Lotefa (83)
Kerry FC: Antonio Tuta; Kevin Williams, Samuel Aladesanusi, Andrew Spain, Ethan Koa, Sean O'Connell; Daire McCarthy, Ronan Teahan, Sean McGrath (Steven Healy 75); Ryan Kelliher(Daniel Okwute 63), Victor Udeze(Cian Brosnan 85).
Subs not used: Aaron O'Sullivan, Kennedy Amechi, Finn Barrett, Jack Kavanagh, Ferdia O'Brien, Graham O'Reilly.
Booked: Ronan Teahan (23), Ethan Kos (45), Samuel Aladesanusi (52), Steven Healy (76).
Referee: David Dunne.
Attendance: 1015.
extratime.com Player of the Match: Antonio Tuta (Kerry).
