FINN HARPS came within five minutes of knocking Premier side Drogheda United out of the FAI Cup in a gripping clash in Ballybofey tonight.
The Donegal side had to play the last half an hour with ten men and eventually cracked under the Utd pressure.
Seven yellow cards, a 58th minute red card for Ciaran Coll and two goals lit up Finn Park in this cracking FAI Cup Cup quarter-final.
And Harps can be proud of their performances throughout the pitch after being written off by all the pundits, the press and the bookies beforehand.
Kevin McHugh had scored a stunning opening goal to give Finn Harps an incredible half-time lead here at Finn Park over Drogheda United.
The Louth side were favourites to progress here – and you could have got 8/1 on Harps before kick-off.
But a goal in the 22nd minute by striker McHugh after great work by Thomas McMonagle had Harps ahead at the break to the delight of their fans.
It was almost a party atmosphere at half-time.
Harps came out for the second period and competed for every ball as feet flew and tempers flared, and the ref got card-happy.
But Michael Daly popped up five minutes from time to grab the equaliser – and force a replay in Drogheda next Monday.
Peter Hutton’s men came oh so close.
And they can go home tonight feeling that a battle drawn was a moral victory for the First Division outfit.
They will be without Coll – sent off in the 58th minute – for the replay.
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