Fanad United and Finn Harps Reserves played out an entertaining Donegal News League Cup game at Traigh-a-Loch on Sunday with Harps coming out on top.
Fanad United 2 Finn Harps Reserves 4
Harps had the first chance of note in the ninth minute when Darren McElwaine went on a fine run down the right and his dangerous ball into the box was well defended by Paddy McGinley.
Ten minutes later Fanad took the lead. Paul Bradley surged down the left and his ball into the box was met by Edward O’Reilly who finished from six yards out.
Harps Reserves then got an equaliser on the half hour mark. When a corner was swung in from the right it was met by Niall McGinley, when his header came back off the foot of the post Daragh Ellison was on hand to finish from close range.
The first half ended in crazy fashion as 3 penalties were awarded in the final three minutes. First off Fanad keeper Oisin Cannon was adjudged to have taken down Mark Russell in the box.
Ellison stepped but Oisin Cannon redeemed himself by pulling off a superb save. From the resulting corner a second penalty was awarded to Harps when Johnny Logue was penalised for a tug on an opponents jersey.
This time Corey McBride stepped up to give Harps the lead.
From the kick off Fanad broke up field and Keelin McElwaine hauled to the ground in the box for the third penalty. Brian McVeigh took the penalty and he fired high into the top corner.
Harps went on the attack in the second half and, ten minutes in, Mark Russell turned in the box and his shot struck the base of the post.
On 70 minutes Niall McGinley hit a free kick from out wide which hit the post, when the ball was played back in Paddy McGinley produced a fine headed clearance to keep the scores level. Harps did take the lead two minutes later when sub Gabby Aduaka turned in the box and scored from seven yards out.
Aduaka almost got his second five minutes later but was denied by a fine save from Oisin Cannon.
Harps did extend their lead with ten minutes remaining when Keelan McGill scored from close range after a free kick was partially cleared. Brian McVeigh did have a chance to get a goal back in injury time but his well hit shot was deflected over by Joel Bradley Walsh.
Fanad United: Oisin Cannon, Peter Curran, Connor Duggan, Seamus Friel, Paddy McGinley, Johnny Logue, Paul Bradley, Matthew McLaughlin, Edward O’Reilly, Keelin McElwaine, Brian McVeigh. Subs used: Patrick Moffitt, Darren Lynch, Liam McGrenaghan
Finn Harps Reserves: Patrick McGarvey, Lee McLaughlin, Daragh Ellison, Keelin McGill, Joel Bradley-Walsh, Niall McGinley, Corey McBride, Darren McElwaine, Mark Russell, Stephen Doherty, Pat Loughery. Subs used: Jack Doherty, Ciaran Farren, Gabriel Aduaka, Jordan Gallagher, Daryl Porter
Referee: Vincent McLaughlin
