Sean Houston’s 28th minute goal has Finn Harps leading Galway United at half-time tonight at Finn Park and Paddy McCourt has been well involved so far.
Half-time Finn Harps 1 Galway United 0
McCourt created the goal for Houston, playing a neat pass to Houston, who did well to fire past ex-Harps ‘keeper Conor Winn to the bottom corner.
McCourt was included as one of three changes to the Harps side from that which lost 5-3 to Bray last Friday, with Eddie Dsane also making his debut and Packie Mailey given a first start of 2017.
Damien McNulty, Jonny Bonner and Michael Funston were the men to make way in the reshuffle.
It was from a quickly and clevery played McCourt corner, in the 13th minute, that Harps had their first opportunity with the in-rushing Caolan McAleer drilling low from 20 yards, but David Cawley made the clearance from an awkward attempt by the Omagh man.
The same two players combined for the hosts when McCourt’s fine ball into the right channel invited an effort from McAleer, but his effort was saved by Conor Winn.
In Horgan’s first season as Harps manager, in 2014, Winn was the Harps goalkeeper, while Kevin Devaney – who spent a time on loan at Finn Park in 2011 – was also named in the Galway side.
The cagey opening continued with defender Lee Grace heading over the top before Houston broke the deadlock.
Galway had big chance, seven minutes after falling behind and Harps were certainly fortunate to keep their sheet clean.
Devaney released Ronan Murray, who rounded Ciaran Gallagher – who had been forced off last week in Bray with a head injury – but went too wide. Devaney latched onto Murray’s pull-back and fired off the post with Gallagher relieved to gather from Gavan Holohan’s follow-up.
Just before half-time, Vinny Faherty had a golden chance for Galway, but fired tamely wide when he ought to have, at least, tested Gallagher.
