After Friday night’s 1-1 draw at Finn Park, Finn Harps and Drogheda United will have to do it all again on Monday night when they two sides meet again at Hunky Dory’s Park in the FAI Cup Quarter-Final replay (kick-off 7.45pm).
As the only First Division club still left in the competition, it looked like Harps would pull off the shock of the round as they led through Kevin McHugh’s first half goal.
However, with just five minutes remaining Mark Daly broke the Harps supporters hearts when he slotted home to give Drogheda a second chance on their own patch on Monday.
But that doesn’t tell the full story of the game. Harps played all but eleven minutes of the second half with just ten men after Ciaran Coll was sent-off after fifty six minutes, something that angered Harps boss Peter Hutton who was also sent to the stands.
Hutton was rightly proud of the efforts of his team.
“I thought the players acquitted themselves extremely well and certainly deserved to go through especially being down to ten men for such a long time. We knew it was going to be a physical battle and that it was, but I honestly don’t think there was a bad tackle in the game.”
However, Hutton said that quite a few off-the-ball incidents – which didn’t go unpunished – left one of his players with missing teeth.
“The game was very competitive and there were certainly a lot of off the ball incidents which resulted in a few of our players been elbowed in the face, to an extent Damien McNulty had his teeth knocked out!
“How the fourth official failed to see any of those incidents and yet only seen Ciaran Coll’s reaction to being himself deliberately tripped when trying to get back into position, typified the officiating at the game, baffling,” said a frustrated Hutton.
“I would rather though focus on the positives of the team’s performance and how proud I was of each and everyone of them as they more than matched Drogheda for long spells after a shaky start.”
The Harps Manager was also full of praise for the big crowd who descended on Finn Park.
“I thought the crowd too certainly played their part, the atmosphere was electric and that really inspired the boys. It was a really good cup tie and I’m sure the crowd got their money’s worth though not the right result.
“We now look forward to Monday’s game and whilst the players were obviously gutted at not finishing the job on the night, they will be ready mentally and physically to go again on Monday.”
On the team front, Ciaran Coll is suspended due to his red card on Friday while Michael Funston is unavailable due to work commitments. Tommy McMonagle took a blow to his troublesome foot injury and is a doubt. Sean McCarron though returns after a one game ban which saw him miss Friday’s initial game.
Harps have not played in Drogheda since 2008 – their last visit there saw them record a 2-1 victory with Stephen Parkhouse grabbing the goals for the visitors.
With a place in the semi-finals up for grabs, both teams will take the field already knowing who they will play should they get there as the draw takes place on MNS on RTE at 7.00pm.
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TEAM NEWS
Suspended: Ciaran Coll.
Doubtful: Tommy McMonagle (foot).
Unavailable: Michael Funston
Injured: None.
