Finn Harps 0 – 0 Longford Town
By Stuart Connolly at Finn Park
Finn Harps extended their run of clean sheets to four games on Friday night in a match that either side could have taken all three points late on.
Scoreless at the break, Harps and Longford had opportunities, but found the opposition shot-stopper in their path.
Shaunie Bradley and Gavin Hodgins came closest for the hosts, while Francis Campbell and Daniel Norris nearly struck for Longford.
The result keeps Harps six points shy of UCD, who they play next week.
Keen to add to their squad after the registration ban had been lifted by FIFA, Finn Harps registered three new recruits in as many days. Kieran Cooney started from the word go against Longford Town, while fellow additions, Oran Brogan and Idir Zerrouk, took up a seat on the bench.
In the first few moments in the rain at Finn Park, the hosts had some decent openings, but couldn’t grab that early breakthrough. Joel Bradley-Walsh had a flicked effort blocked on the line with just four minutes on the clock, while Conor Tourish had an attempt saved by Harry Halwax.
Beyond those chances, the two sides cancelled each other out in many aspects on the field, and it took until after the half hour mark before another sight of goal opened up. Michael Place and Bradley-Walsh stood ready and waiting on the edge of the box with a free kick within shooting distance. The former tested his luck, and his attempt deflected off the wall and skipped just wide of the target.
Gavin McAteer had a late corner sail into the grateful grasp of Halwax, who fell over his line, but fortunately for him, the ball didn’t.
Finn Harps v Longford in the SSE Airtricity League First Division. North West Newspix
Finn Harps v Longford in the SSE Airtricity League First Division. North West Newspix
The second half began much like the first half played out as opportunities continued to be evasive.
Beyond the hour, Harps had the best chance of the game. Bradley-Walsh whipped in the ball from the left, and with his first touch, Shaunie Bradley headed narrowly over the bar from close range.
Not long after, Longford Town had their first proper sight of the target, but a snapshot from Aaron Doran fizzed wide.
With a little over ten minutes left, Longford Town went mightily close to breaking the deadlock. On the counter, Daniel Norris couldn’t get his own strike away, but set-up Francis Campbell, and his low shot rolled just wide of the mark with Corey Sheridan beaten.
Harps ramped up the pressure in the final stages of the game as Bradley and Gavin Hodgins both went close.
Longford Town also looked to snatch a late winner, and Norris went close with a driven effort that was superbly closed down by Sheridan.
Finn Harps v Longford in the SSE Airtricity League First Division. North West Newspix
In the last seconds of stoppage time, Longford went close once more, and the frustrated reaction of Campbell showed just how close his header from point-blank range was to going into the net.
Finn Harps: Corey Sheridan; Michael Place, Max Hutchison, Conor Tourish, Joel Bradley-Walsh, Kieran Cooney; Kevin Jordan(Shaunie Bradley 64), Gavin Gilmore(Gavin Hodgins 57), Gavin McAteer, Tony McNamee; Gradi Lomboto(Seaghan McCormick 88)
Longford Town: Harry Halwax; Eric Yoro(Stefan Ugbesia 76), Osaze Irhue, Andrew Spain, Oisin Hand; Luke Wade Slater(Dean George 76), Pharrell Manuel, Aaron Doran, Emre Topcu, Daniel Norris; Daragh Murtagh(Francis Campbell 76).
Referee: Daryl Carolan
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