Finn Harps picked up their second clean sheet of the campaign after a scoreless draw with Kerry FC during a miserable night in Ballybofey.
Finn Harps 0 – 0 Kerry FC
By Stuart Connolly at Finn Park with pics by Joe Boland
Success Edogun was denied his fourth goal of the season during the opening stages while Patrick Ferry was thwarted a number of times throughout the 90 minutes.
The two sides have picked up a point each with Harps now on 11 from their first six games and that has them sat in third in table.
On a cold and wet night at Finn Park, Darren Murphy implemented three changes to his starting lineup after the victory over Wexford FC last week.
Patrick Ferry, Max Hutchison and Shane McMonagle were invited into the eleven and after an early chance for Kerry FC via the boot of Ryan Kelliher, the hosts began to click into gear.
Tony McNamee was the architect for the first effort ten minutes in with Success Edogun on the other end. His effort over former Harps netminder Antonio Tuta was goalbound but cleared off the line by Samuel Aladesanusi.
McNamee was at it again moments later, this time his set-piece landed at the feet of Patrick Ferry with his shot deflected narrowly wide of the target.
Kelliher was the main threat up top for the visitors and close to the half hour, he found space again to set himself up for a pop at goal with this opportunity flying narrowly wide of Tim Heimer’s goal.
Darren Murphy mentioned prior to the match that he’d prefer if Tuta had a busy afternoon and he was called upon to stop two big chances as the game edged towards the half-time interval.
Shane McMonagle’s header was tipped onto the crossbar but the better save was the second. Ferry headed towards goal from just a few yards out and it looked likely to give Harps the lead on the cusp of half-time but Tuta instinctively got a strong hand on the ball to parry it away.
A huge chunk of the opening stages during the second-half was spent at the Town End of Finn Park.
Finn Harps forced the issue early on and got a succession of corners and while most were blasted away, two found their intended target. Ferry fired the first towards goal and once again a deflection denied him. Many of those in blue and white felt it was deflected over via a hand but David Dunne had no interest in pointing to the spot.
Tuta was thrust into action again for the next chance that flew his way, this time saving a diving header from Jamie Watson.
After that spell of control, it was slim pickings for both sides in terms of chances.
Udeze and Edogun had an effort each as the clock ticked away but both shots dragged wide.
With Kelliher off the pitch, Udeze became the main threat up front for the visitors and he went closest to the first goal with a little over ten minutes to go.
His shot from range was only a whisker wide of the left hand post with Heimer unable to get across.
Heimer was called upon again moments later, this time his palms were stung by a long range strike from Ronan Teahan.
Neither side could find that midas touch as the game neared its conclusion and it could have fallen in favour of Kerry in the dying embers.
Cian Brosnan had the final chance from close range after a set-piece but sliced his effort wide.
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.
Kerry FC: Antonio Tuta; Kevin Williams, Samuel Aladesanusi, Andrew Spain, Ethan Kos, Sean O’Connell; Daire McCarthy, Ronan Teahan, Sean McGrath(Steven Healy 75); Ryan Kelliher(Okwuy Okwute 63), Victor Udeze(Cian Brosnan 85)
Referee: David Dunne
