Finn Harps will have to come from behind if they’re to collect anything from this evening’s trip to Dublin as the Donegal side trail Bohemians at the break.
Half-time: Bohemians 1 Finn Harps 0
Asixth-minute own goal by Harps defender Damien McNulty is all that separates the teams following a hugely frustrating half for the visiting support.
It is a goal that will have had Ollie Horgan pulling the hair from his scalp and certainly one that Ciaran Gallagher, the Harps goalkeeper, won’t be looking forward to seeing on Soccer Republic on Monday night.
It was from a wayward Gallagher kick-out that Kaleem Simon took possession. Simon’s threaded pass put George Poynton in on goal, thought it was the toe of Harps defender Damien McNulty that prodded the ball to the net.
Harps are already operating with a threadbare squad given a recent spate of injuries, but the situation worsened yesterday with confirmation that Thomas McMonagle, frustrated by a lack of first-team chances, had left the club.
Michael Funston was also absent here and it meant that there were two blank spaces on a Harps teamsheet that contained only 16 players, including three under-19s in Gareth Doherty, Simon McGlynn and Dylan McCroary.
Ciaran O’Connor, despite still being a little inhibited by a hamstring injury, returned to the side as Harps went in search of a first win in Phibsborough since a Jonathan Speak winner in 1999.
They looked nailed on to take the lead after just 80 seconds but the ball bobbled away from Barry Molloy, leaving the Harps player taking aim at thin air as he seemed set to open the scoring with the goal yawning after Ethan Boyle and McNulty helped created the chance.
Rocked by the early concession, Harps did manage to carve out a couple of openings. O’Connor blasted one effort into the Des Kelly Carpets Stand and Caolan McAleer shot tamely at Shane Supple from 20 yards.
With things getting somewhat heated, Harps boss Horgan was banished to the stands by referee Graham Kelly in the 37th minute
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