There were no goals to warm the hearts of the Finn Harps fans who braved a bitterly cold night in Ballybofey where they saw their team held to a goalless draw by Wexford FC.
Finn Harps . . . 0, Wexford FC . . . 0
It means Dave Rogers side are still awaiting their first win of the campaign.
Still the new manager will be happy with many aspects of his team’s performance. They struggled to kick into gear in the first half as their opponents bossed possession.
But after half-time, and following the introduction of Filip De Silva and then young Sean O’Donnell, Harps were so much better.
Unfortunately they didn’t create too many chances to trouble Wexford keeper Noel Heffernan – their best effort on goal, a Ryan Rainey shot from 20 yards which flew just past the post on 66 minutes.
So it’s a second draw on the bounce for Harps and they remain in the bottom three. At the other end it’s Galway United who continue to lead the way – their latest win a 9-1 thrashing of Kerry FC.
Harps, without their captain Keith Cowan through injury, started well and Seamus Keogh flashed an early free kick just over the bar.
But Wexford, buoyed by their first win of the season against Athlone Town last weekend, soon settled and enjoyed plenty of possession in the first half.
From one of a string of early corners, midfielder Aaron Robinson was unlucky to see a well struck effort deflected off the leg of a Harps defender and over the bar.
With former Harps favourite Ethan Boyle captaining the team at centre half, Wexford carried the greater threat. Mark Hanratty came in off the left and shot narrowly wide while at the other end, Harps struggled to create any real danger. Their one decent opening in the first half came when Cian Lynch was played in on goal by Keogh but Lynch’s shot was well off target.
Just before the break, Harps keeper Tim-Oliver Hiemer produced a fine stop on his line after Hugh Douglas turned another Wexford set-piece delivery towards goal.
Harps were much better after the turnaround. Filip De Silva, who came on for the injured Okwuy Okwule shortly before the break, added extra impetus to the attack and he went close soon after the restart, heading Caoimhin Porter’s delivery just wide.
The pacey Sean O’Donnell was introduced in place of Cian Lynch and suddenly Harps were looking the most likely to find the opener.
Ryan Rainey drove an effort just wide on 66 minutes as Harps went close again.
Wexford almost found a late winner when Brandon McCann headed inches wide of the target.
The visitors deserved the point – especially after they played the final ten minutes of the contest with only ten men. Their midfielder Aaron Robinson was stretchered off after sustaining a worrying injury and due to the fact that they had made three substitutions, Wexford were not able to bring on a replacement.
Finn Harps: Tim-Oliver Hiemer, Caoimhin Porter, Daithi McCallion, Ellis Farrar, Ryan Flood, Noe Baba, Ryan Rainey, Seamus Keogh (Kevin Jordan 78), Cian Lynch (Sean O’Donnell 62), Michael Harris (Kailego Mashigo 78), Okwuy Okwule (Filip De Silva 34).
Wexford FC: Noel Heffernan, Hugh Douglas, Ethan Boyle, Aaron Robinson, Karl Chambers (Aaron Doran 55), Brandon McCann, Aaron Dobbs, Mark Hanratty (Kian Corbally 46 (Jordan Adeyemo 59)) James Crawford, Conor Levingston, Reece Webb.
Referee: Declan Toland.
Photos: Joe Boland, North West Newspix
