Another impressive comeback from Harps WU19s as they moved into 2nd place in the table
Finn Harps WU19 2 1 Peamount United WU19 1
Harps WU19’s played out a thrilling match in glorious conditions at a sun drenched Ballyare pitch on Sunday. Spurred on by the large home support that included 26 players from the Glenea United U14 girls team, the Harps team once again showed great character to comeback from a goal down against Peamount as they did in the reverse fixture at the start of the session.
Harps almost took the lead in the first few minutes when Erika Gallaghers fine through ball was well controlled by livewire Maryanne Ward but her shot was well saved by Peamount’s keeper. Aislinn Coll and Ella McHugh both went close after good play from Caitlin Doherty in midfield. Full Backs Eva Blaney and Emily were defending well and Harps keeper Claire Diver was displaying a masterclass in kicking against the wind.
The visitors took the lead in the 35th minute when Alicia Maher scored from close range after a free kick. Lorraine Greene impressed when introduced in the 60th minute. Aislinn Coll scored the equaliser direct from a free kick to send her fans from Glenea into hysterics as the atmosphere started to grow. In the 70th minute Harps defender Darcey Kelly, who was superb yet again at the heart of the defense, sent a great ball over the top for Roisin Lynch who made no mistake with the finish to give the home team the lead.
Heidi Gill and Codie Walsh were brilliant in midfield and really drove the team on in the 2nd half. Olivia Maxwell and Fiona Doherty played important roles as they helped to see the win out. Harps keeper Leah McLoughlin made a great save with 5 minutes remaining.
Another remarkable comeback from the WU19’s and a superb team performance with Heidi Gill, Erika Gallagher and Maryanne Ward getting special mentions on the day. Up next is Dundalk FC away on Sunday, the 28th April.
Erika Gallagher, Mary Anne Ward & Heidi Gill shared the POTM.
1 Claire Diver GK
2 Heidi Gill
3 Emily Niamh Irwin
4 Erika Gallagher
5 Darcey Kelly
6 Aislinn Coll CP
7 Mary Anne Ward
8 Codie Walsh
10 Ella McHugh
11 Eva Blaney
20 Caitlin Doherty
Subs
9 Orlaith Doherty
12 Fiona Doherty
14 Freya Canning
15 Bridin Hynes
16 Leah McLoughlin
17 Lorinne Greene
18 Olivia Maxwell
19 Roisin Lynch
21 Niamh Ryan
WU17
Despite having the better chances and the majority of possession Finn Harps left Longford with no joy.
The first half saw both teams battling fiercely for control of the game. Harps had some early chances, with Sarah McGuinness, Ainara Hutcheson and Caitlin Doherty coming close to scoring, but were unable to find the back of the net thanks to some good goal keeping by the Longford Town netminder. In the opposite goal Rhianna Doherty had a quiet first half with the Harps defenders Niamh Ryan and Scarlett Keys dealing with the long balls from Longford towards the Harps goal. Going into the break there was nothing between the sides at nil all.
Unfortunately Harps would rue their missed chances with Longford taking the lead at the very start of the second half with the defence not dealing with a long ball over the top and the Longford player finishing in the bottom corner. Harps like the first half created the better chances and had the majority of possession but couldn’t break the Longford rearguard down with Sienna Bradley and Abaigh Curran linking up well on the left hand side for Harps and creating chances for the team. Longford scored their second late on in the second half but despite this the girls never gave up and kept fighting until the end of the game.
POTM for Harps was Sienna Bradley and Abaigh Curran
16 Rhianna Doherty GK
2 Alanna Graham
4 Scarlett Keys
5 Niamh Ryan CP
6 Sophie Canning
7 Sarah McGuinness
8 Kaylagh Sweeney
9 Caitlin Doherty
10 Chloe Deeney
11 Sienna Bradley
18 Ainara Hutcheson
Subs
1 Lauren McArdle GK
15 Emma Wallace
17 Abaigh Curran
20 Fia Coyle
21 Eabha Daly
MU15
Our MU15s lost out in a 6 goal game at sun-drenched Oriel Park, with hosts Dundalk winning 4-2. Two well taken goals from Tadgh McDaid wasn’t enough to earn the points for Harps. Thomas McHugh produced a solid performance throughout claiming the POTM.
25 Noah Boyle GK
2 Thomas McHugh
3 Callum Boyle
4 Danny Og Cooney
5 Jack Davies
6 Blake Meredith CP
7 Leighton Green
8 Illia Voronkin
9 Eanna Duddy
10 Shai Thompson
11 Temple Akpo
Subs
32 Cormac Crossan GK
12 Adrian Plata
14 Diarmuid Reid
15 Naoise Kavanagh
16 Alex Ferry
17 Cole Connolly
18 Tadhg Mc Daid
19 Adam Rodgers
MU14
Our MU14s lost out in their derby against Derry City at Corry Park. Despite Lee McDaid’s goal Harps couldn’t force an equaliser with the away side taking the 3 points. Ronan McGranaghan captained the side, whilst Jack Byrne produced a super display earning the POTM
1 Matthew Dowds GK
2 Sean Gallagher
3 Jonah Cannon
4 Jack O’Donnell
5 Cahir Daly
6 Jack Byrne
7 Finn Devine
8 Ronan McGranaghan CP
9 Odhran McHugh
10 Adam McBride
11 Oran Daly
Subs
20 Reuben Maxwell GK
12 Ben Farrell
14 Luke O’Donnell
15 Lee McDaid
16 Marcin Pirch
MU17
The Harps MU17s lost out against Bray Wanderers in a game played ay Letterkenny Community Centre. Gavin McAteer pulled Harps level on 18 minutes but the Wicklow side stretched away for a 4-1 win.
99 Vladyslav Onyshchenko GK
3 Declan Patton
4 Daniel Cunningham
5 Ruairi Connaghan
6 Josh Cullen
7 Conor Gibson
8 Tiarnan Callaghan McElwaine
9 Liam McLaughlin
10 Gavin McAteer CP
11 Matthew McGeehan
21 Rowan McGroarty
Subs
12 Eoin Gorman
14 Conor McGranaghan
15 Eamonn MacBride
16 Troy Preston
17 Shane Sweeney
18 Guilherme Tavares De Morais
23 Callum Maskery
24 Ryan McConnell
40 Corey Sheridan
MU20
Harps MU20s went down to a 2-0 defeat at Letterkenny Community Centre to Drogheda United as 2 goals early in the second half were the difference between the sides.
25 Oisin Cooney GK
2 Óisin Porter
4 James McAteer
5 Adam McDaid
6 Reid Kelly
7 Nathan McDaid
8 Mark McGlynn
9 Volodymyr Kovalchuk
10 Adam Duffy CP
12 Tiernan Ruddy
22 Dylan McAteer
Subs
26 Ronan Callaghan GK
40 Ryan Galvin GK
16 Ben O’Donnell
17 Jamie McMonagle Quinn
18 Caoimhin Bonnar
19 David Boakye
21 Ryan Creevy
24 Jack Keys
28 Mark Mbuli