FINN HARPS WERE beaten in time added on by Galway United at Eamonn Deacy Memorial Park – as Ollie Horgan was sent from the sidelines again.
Galway United 2-1 Finn Harps
The side managed by Ollie Horgan had led in the City of the Tribes from a shot from Barry Molloy that cannoned into the Galway net off former Harps net minder Conor Winn on 27 minutes.
However, the home side levelled matters up with just 16 minutes to go when Ronan Murray sent Ciaran Gallagher the wrong way from the penalty spot. Then, in the third minute of injury time, Vinny Faherty headed the match winners.
Harps manager Horgan was sent from the sidelines just beforehand having had words with Dermot Broughton, the fourth official. Horgan spent last week’s 3-0 loss against Bray Wanderers in the press box having been dismissed in the previous game – a 5-0 reversal at Cork City’s hands.
The loss is the Ballybofey club’s fifth on the bounce and with the 2-0 victory over Derry City at Maginn Park the exception, their seventh defeat in eight outings. Tonight’s goal was Harps’ only goal in those defeats.
Tonight, though, Harps might feel hard done by and did enough over the course of the 90 minutes to gain something, only to be let down in the end by individual errors.
Harps almost took the lead as early as the 20th minute, only for Kilian Cantwell to smash a header off the Galway crossbar from only six yards out after a free-kick by Paddy McCourt.
The visitors did take the lead seven minutes later. Having been on such a sterile run in front of goal, they deserved a little bit of luck. Gareth Harkin’s cross was met by Molloy and although the former Derry City midfielder’s shot cannoned off the base of the post, it ended up in the net off the unfortunate Winn.
Harps were still in front approaching the final quarter but Galway got back on terms through Murray from the spot after David Cawley was fouled by substitute Danny Morrissey.
Then, deep into injury time and things looking like they’d finish all square, Fanherty looped a winner with a header over Gallagher after Marc Ludden’s cross.
Galway United: Conor Winn; Lee Grace, Stephen Folan (Paul Sinnott 90), Marc Ludden; Colm Horgan, Gary Shanahan (Conor Melody 60), Gavin Holohan, David Cawley, Kevin Devaney; Ronan Murray, Padraic Cunningham (Vinny Faherty 60).
Finn Harps: Ciaran Gallagher; Ethan Boyle, Damien McNulty, Kilian Cantwell, Ciaran Coll; Caolan McAleer (Michael Funston 86), Paddy McCourt (Danny Morrissey 34), Barry Molloy (Jonny Bonner 64), Sean Houston, Gareth Harkin; Ciaran O’Connor.
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