May 10
1
Cork grab point against Finn Harps
Cork City earned a share of the spoils in Ballybofey last night
Finn Harps 0
Cork City 0
Finn Park, Ballybofey
Finn Harps earned a point against Cork City FORAS Co-op in a closely fought encounter played in front of a disappointing attendance of just over 500 people in Finn Park last night.
After last week’s home defeat against Monaghan City, Cork were determined to get back to winning ways against a Harps side sitting two points below them at the start of play who were hoping to bounce back from a defeat against league leaders Waterford United.
The opening spell was a scrappy affair, not helped by a long stoppage which due led to the injured Vaos Hojan being replaced by Eoin Forde after just six minutes. However, it was City who carved out the first real chance on 16 minutes.
Finn Harps could only draw again at home
Cathal Jordan’s close range shot from the angle of the six yard box was blocked by goalkeeper Liam Mailey and the ball spun into the direction of Shane Duggan, but he headed over when he really should have scored.
The game then began to open up but it wasn’t until the 33rd minute that the next opening of note came when Davitt Walsh played a great ball through for Kevin McHugh but the Harps striker’s shot took a deflection and went well wide.
City began the second half promisingly and Davin O’Neill found space to get in a shot that was saved by Mailey and moments later Graham Cummins went close with a header.
Pace picked up
But with the pace of the game finally picking up Harps then spurned a decent chance when Thomas Bonner blazed over from outside the box. Substitute Stephen McLaughlin injected more life into the attacking moves by the home side and Walsh embarked on a number of probing runs as they enjoyed their best spell mid-way through the second half.
But with defence on top, clear-cut chances were at a premium with little between the sides. With 85 minutes gone, Thomas Bonner – Harps’ best player – strode into the box and let fly with a thundering shot that Mark McNulty did well to save at the expense of a corner. In the end a draw was a fair result between the two mid-table sides.
This result means that Cork City FORAS have retained their unbeaten away record in this season’s First Division.
But with Shelbourne and Monaghan both losing they have lost further ground in the promotion race.
Finn Harps:
L. Mailey; Doherty, P. Mailey, Crossan, Whoriskey; Forker, Bonner, Lafferty, Brolly; Walsh, McHugh.
Subs: McLaughlin for Brolly (56 mins), F. Bonner for Forker (92 mins), McMenamin for Walsh (88 mins).
Cork City FORAS:
McNulty; Turner, Mulcahy, Rogers, O’Halloran; O’Neill, Cathal Lordan, Cillian Lordan, Duggan, Hojan; Cummins.
Subs: Forde for Hojan (6 mins), Warren for Cathal Lordan (87 mins).
Referee: Mr. J. McLaughlin (Dublin).
