UCD 1 Finn Harps 1 | Airtricity League - Real Football, Real Fans

UCD 1 Finn Harps 1

Friday, 19 June 2009 22:49

Finn Harps were forced to take on the league leaders U.C.D. without their two leading goalscorers this season. Conor Gethins, who is suffering from a dislocated shoulder, and Michael Funston, who was serving a one match ban for his dismissal against Galway United in the FAI Cup match the previous Saturday night.

Gavin Cullen was also absent as he is getting married and this meant a return to the goalkeeper’s role for Ireland Under 19 keeper Ciaran Gallagher. Other changes in the Harps side saw the return of Marc Mukendi to the centre-half position allowing Shaun McGowan to resume his central midfield slot.

In a bright opening the play switched from end-to-end with big clearances being the order of the day. The first real chance fell to the students after ten minutes. Sean Harding took a throw in to John Reilly. The College no. 7 easily slipped his marker and turned in towards goal. Reilly then had a snapshot that whistled just past the goalpost.

Harps were well in the game and their first chance came after eighteen minutes. A slip by the Evan McMillen allowed David McDaid to get on the ball in the home side’s box. He played a short ball into the near post aiming for Oisin McMenamin but the ball was scrambled clear by the defence.

Harps broke the deadlock after twenty-two minutes. Packie Mailey floated over a free kick from the Harps left.    The ball was cleared to the edge of the penalty area as far as Mukendi. A space opened up for the big centre-back and he let fly with a shot that nestled into the corner of the net.

The home side responded well to this set back and began to create a few chances. Firstly Reilly released top scorer Ciaran Kilduff, but his shot was high and over Gallagher’s crossbar. Next Timmy Purcell and Chris Mulhall combined in a move that saw Mulhall get in behind the Harps defence. To the disappointment of the small home crowd his shot went across the face of the goal and narrowly wide.

On thirty-one minutes the students hit the equalizer. Purcell collected a high ball into the box from Mulhall and he nicked the ball past Gallagher and into the Harps net.   Both sides had chances before the break with the best probably falling to Harps.

Johnny Havlin lofted a high ball into the College half.   Their keeper Billy Brennan advanced to collect it and did so but was ruled to be outside the box. He picked up a yellow card for his indiscretion. Harps shaped up to the ball with three players over it.   Gary Whoriskey went on a dummy run, whilst McDaid slipped the ball to Mukendi, but his shot went high over the crossbar.

U.C.D. made two changes at half-time and changed their formation to an attacking 3-4-3.   Still it was Harps who were coming forward and bringing the game to U.C.D.   Conaghan and Havlin had efforts that were easily saved by Brennan.

Mulhall had the first chance for the home side when Keith Ward slipped a good ball to him.   Unfortunately for the striker he couldn’t get his shot away cleanly and Gallagher saved easily.    Harps then picked up two silly bookings. Both Mukendi and Ruairi Harkin, on as a second half substitute for the industrious McMenamin, were booked on different occasions for not retreating ten yards at free-kicks.

U.C.D. began to pile the pressure on the Harps rearguard, who began to defend deep but apart from a penalty appeal when McMillan went to ground under a challenge by Mukendi, they didn’t create a clear cut chance to win the game.

Harps will be well pleased with the draw, even if U.C.D. did look a little below par. Certainly for a team at the top of the First Division at the start of play, they lacked ideas going forward. Harps defended extremely well and eliminated, at least for this game, their penchant for giving away silly goals.   The rearguard was well marshaled by Mukendi and Mailey who both had excellent games.

Up front the work-rate of Oisin McMenamin, for very little reward, was particularly impressive. He is a very busy player and caused the home defence no end of problems. The centre of midfield was well covered by both Shaun McGowan and Sean Houston and both players did well coming forward. Hopefully this young side can build on the positives from this match after the mid-season break.

Teams U.C.D. Billy Brennan, Sean Harding, Ciaran Nangle, Andrew Boyle, Evan McMillan, Robbie Creevy, John Reilly, James Timmons, Ciaran Kilduff, Timmy Purcell, Chris Mulhall Subs David McMillan and Keith Ward for Nangle and Timmons (half-time), Gavin Falconer for Kilduff (74 mins). Not Used Gareth Mattews and Gerard Barron.

Finn Harps: Ciaran Gallagher, Johnny Havlin, Ciaran Coll, Marc Mukendi, Packie Mailey, Sean Houston, Christy Conaghan, Shaun McGowan, David McDaid, Oisin McMenamin, Gary Whoriskey. Subs Ruairi Harkin for McMenamin (62 mins), Marc Brolly for Whoriskey (69 mins). Not Used Fintan Bonner, Mark Forker and Liam Mailey.

Referee: P. Caschera