Finn Harps got their first league point of the new season after a share of the spoils in a 1-1 draw with Bray Wanderers at Finn Park tonight.
Ryan Flood put Harps in front after 17 minutes but Harry Groome managed to level things for Bray on the half hour.
By Charlie Collins and Joe Boland at Finn Park
These two teams had experienced very different fortunes in their opening two games, with Harps losing both to Galway United and Athlone while Bray Wanderers had opened their campaign with victories over Kerry FC and Treaty Utd.
Before the kick-off a minute silence was observed in memory of two well known football men, Liam Haughey and Kieran McGrath who both died in tragic circumstances during the week.
Harps gave an immediate full debut to new signing Neo Baba in central midfield but where otherwise unchanged from their opening two games.
The game produced a lively opening period with the visitors looking dangerous going forward but Harps also causing them problems at the other when they were able get the ball on the ground.
Chris Lyons almost got a Bray opener after a neat bit of play inside the box but got blocked out at the vital moment in the fourteenth minute .
Five minutes later Harps took the lead , Ellis Farrar was fouled just outside the penalty, Seamas Keogh and Ray Flood produced a perfect training ground set piece routine with the latter curling a beauty low into the bottom corner.
Bray responded very well with a number of incisive attacks and were rewarded in the 30th minute with an excellent goal when Gerard Shortt and Chis Lyons combined to set up Harry Groome and he drilled a cracking shot low past Tim Hiemer for the equalizer , 1-1.
Boosted by that goal the visitors had the better of things up until half-time , Jake Walker forcing Hiemer into a good save from an acute angle and also forcing a number of corners but it remained level at the break , 1-1.
The opening twenty minutes of the second-half produced a deadlocked situation with neither goalkeeper really troubled, Ryan Rainey firing over from twenty yards Harps best effort in that period while Tim Hiemer had a quiet time as both teams began to use their bench.
Harps replacement Cian Lynch again looked good leading the attack after his introduction .
Hiemer was finally called into action in the 76th minute when he finger tipped a cracking shot from Max Murphy over the bar.
As the minutes ticked away it was Bray with most of the possession but Harps continuing to look dangerous on the break.
Harps went close in the 87th minute , Sean O Donnell did well to win a corner , Ryan Flood’s cross was good but Ellis Farrar just headed wide .
It ended 1-1 as Harps picked up their point of the season and can look forward to another home game against Wexford Youths next week.
Finn Harps ; Tim Hiemer; Daithi McCallion, Keith Cowan, Ellis Farrar, Ryan Flood; Caoimhin Porter, Noe Baba , Ryan Rainey ( Sean O Donnell 84mins), Seamas Keogh ( Katlego Mashigo 65mins) , Michael Harris, Okwuy Okwute ( Cian Lynch 59mins).
BRAY Wanderers: Alex Moody; Max Murphy, Cole Omorehiomwan, Dane Massey, Eoin Farrell ( Len O Sullivan 65mins), Conor Crowley, Guillermo Almirall ( Luca Lovic 58mins), Harry Groome; Ger Shortt ( Conor Davis 85mins) , Chris Lyons ( Callum Thompson 65mins), , Jake Walker. Referee ; Paul Norton .
