WU19s
Finn Harps WU19 1 – 1 Dundalk FC
It was a very historic day at Finn Park for the Finn Harps Women’s U19 team as they played their first ever match there against a strong Dundalk FC team. In Phase 2 of the league Harps had drawn their previous two games against Bohemians FC and Athlone Town FC after being one nil down at halftime in both games. Remarkably the girls showed great character again as they had to come from behind when Dundalk struck just before halftime. Local girl Niamh Ryan was the hero as she equalised with 15 minutes to play in a pulsating game from start to finish.
A huge occasion for the Harps players and it took them a while to get going as the hosts enjoyed the lion’s share of possession in the first 10 minutes but Claire Diver in the Harps nets dealt well with shots from distance. At the other end in the 11th minute, Siobhan Cameron found winger Katelyn Doherty and her ball forward released Orlaith Doherty and although she got around the keeper her cross from wide found the roof of the net. Former Harps player Ella McKenna found room in the box but she looked for a team mate when a shot at goal was possibly on. In the 23rd minute, a super bit of skill by Codie Walsh found Orlaith Doherty in the box and the young Drumkeen player volleyed just wide.
Harps keeper Claire Diver was called into action soon after as she made a double save from close range. Harps responded well at the other end but Katelyn Doherty’s cross was too close to the keeper with Orlaith Doherty lurking at the edge of the 6 yard box. Again Doherty put the away keeper under pressure and Abbie McGranaghan had a shot from distance that was blocked by a defender. In the 35th minute, McGranaghan almost got on the end of Siobhan Cameron’s superb cross but just couldn’t get the right connection and in the follow up Katelyn Rose Doherty fired just wide.
Darcey Kelly was superb at the back for Harps as time and time again she intercepted dangerous through balls and indeed she launched many attacks for the home team with great confidence in possession. Her central defensive partner Roseanna McConalogue was also having a great game beside her as she won tackle after tackle. Left back Emily Irwin had a lot of balls to deal with down her channel and she defended very well. The away team struck a hammer blow to Harps in the 42nd minute when Ella McKenna found Shauna Bell and she laid the ball off to Molly Williams and she let fly from 25 yards giving Diver no chance in the Harps goal. A slender halftime lead for the away team.
Orlaith Doherty had a very impressive first half having just returned from an injury and her replacement Maryanne Ward took off from where Doherty left off as she stretched the away teams centre halves and earned a few free kicks early in the second half for her team. Dundalk’s Kelly Ann Gavin found herself free in the Harps box but her tame shot was saved by Claire Diver. Soon after she had a very similar effort saved by Diver again. In the 66th minute, Codie Walsh’s short corner to Siobhan Cameron was well delivered to the back post but Darcey Kelly and Aislinn Coll just failed to make the vital connection. Coll was starting to dominate more in the 2nd half as Harps went after an equaliser and the introduction of Heidi Gill put them on the front foot too.
Claire Diver’s long diagonal ball found another substitute, Niamh Ryan, and her mazy run and cross up the right wing was well collected by the Dundalk keeper. In the 71st minute, Molly Williams shot just wide from the edge of the box. Full back Siobhan Cameron won the ball at midfield and found Heidi Gill and she played a lovely through ball to Codie Walsh who made a great run. The keeper and defender competed with Walsh for the ball and it rebounded to the edge of the 18 yard box where young local girl Niamh Ryan was waiting. Like a seasoned veteran she calmly passed the ball into the empty net to send the large home support into raptures. An historic goal at Finn Park and a very important goal in the context of the game.
In the 82nd minute Emily Irwin had a shot from distance and the quick-thinking Dundalk keeper delivered a long ball that caught the home defence out as the lively Ella McKenna got onto it and despite cutting inside two players her shot was well saved by Diver again. Diver was impressive throughout and was deputised by U17 keeper Leah McLaughlin. In the 87th minute Dundalk thought they won it when a recycled corner was delivered well into the box by White and substitute Zoe Farrell expertly side footed the ball into the net but she had come from an offside position much to the relief of the home team.
1-1 at the final whistle and a fair result after both teams played some great football and left it all on the pitch for their teams. Great character shown by Paddy McDaid’s team as yet again they came from a goal down at halftime and against a Dundalk team who have had some big results this season. McDaid was assisted by Dessie McGlinchey and Paula Irwin. A word for the officials on the day who played their part as Marty McGarrigle was assisted by Damien McFadden and Vincent McLaughlin. Thanks to physio Jack Winters and to everyone at Finn Park who made this a very memorable occasion. A super team performance and a special mention for joint POTM Darcey Kelly, Siobhan Cameron and Katelyn Rose Doherty and a goal from young Niamh Ryan that has a special place now in the history of women’s football at Finn Park.
1 Claire Diver GK
2 Siobhan Cameron
3 Emily Niamh Irwin
4 Roseanna McConologue
5 Darcey Kelly
6 Katelyn Doherty
7 Katelyn Doherty
8 Aislinn Coll C
9 Orlaith Doherty
10 Codie Walsh
11 Abbie McGranaghan
Subs:
16 Leah McLoughlin GK
12 Mary Anne Ward
14 Niamh Ryan
15 Heidi Gill
WU17s
Finn Harps 1 – 1 Drogheda
Top of the table Drogheda United travelled to Corry Park this weekend and were fortunate to leave with a point. Harps began the better and controlled large parts of the first half with plenty of possession and territory, with Sophie Canning, Heidi Gill and Eabha Daly doing extremely well in some of our passages of play.
Harps took the lead midway through the second half when Heidi Gill picked up a loose ball and fed Maryanne Ward who finished low shooting under the keeper. This spurred Drogheda into life, who until now, had been well contained by Harps with Kaylagh Sweeney winning her midfield battle along with the aforementioned Gill and Canning. Drogheda’s wingers were always a threat and managed to find space on the right wing when a cross come shot was tapped home at the back post to equalise with 10 mins to go. The final quarter of the game was an even affair with neither team creating anything clear cut despite Harps having a late chance to steal it when Clodagh Heron found herself 1v1 with the GK only for the full-time whistle to blow.
1 Leah McLoughlin GK
2 Niamh Ryan
3 Sienna Bradley
4 Kaylagh Sweeney
5 Bridin Hynes
6 Heidi Gill
7 Mary Anne Ward
8 Sophie Canning
9 Caitlin Doherty
10 Ella McHugh C
11 Eabha Daly
Subs
16 Lauren McArdle GK
12 Clodagh Heron
14 Aoife McCarron
15 Clara McGuinness
17 Ciara McGee
21 Alanna Graham
MU14s
Our MU14s recorded a solid victory at home last weekend against Longford Town. Goals from Ryan Doherty (x2) and Callum Dorrian sealed the win. Thomas McHugh produced an excellent display on the right earning POTM, while Noah Boyle captained and kept a clean sheet!
1 Noah Boyle GK C
2 Thomas McHugh
3 Jack Davies
4 Adam Rodgers
5 Cole Connolly
6 Danny Og Cooney
7 Leighton Green
8 Illia Voronkin
9 Ryan Doherty
10 Naoise Kavanagh
11 Diarmuid Reid
Subs
20 Cormac Crossan GK
14 Callum Dorrian
15 Zach Gallagher
19 Gavin Gallagher
MU15
Our MU15s produced an excellent display last Sunday beating Treaty United.
Guilherme Tavares, Ollie Coyle, Ronan Buchanan and Leighton Green all found the net in the convincing win.
Josh Cullen captained the side, while GKs Ryan McConnell and Corey Sheridan kept a clean sheet.
1 Ryan McConnell
2 Rowan McGroarty
3 Shea Boyle
4 Josh Cullen C
5 Declan Patton
6 Caolan McBride
7 Ciaran Connaghan
8 Gavin McAteer
9 Ronan Buchanan
10 Seaghan McCormick
11 Olly Coyle
Subs
18 Corey Sheridan
14 Guilherme Tavares
15 Leighton Green
MU17s
Harps MU17s took on Saint Patricks Athletic last weekend in a game played in Blanchardstown. The hosts ran out winners by six goals to two with Nathan McDaid putting Harps ahead on 18 minutes and later notching a consolation in the 71st minute.
40 Killian Hagan GK
2 Darragh Coyle
3 Troy Preston
4 Daniel Cunningham C
5 Jack Keys
6 Conor McGranaghan
7 Nathan McDaid
8 Adam McDaid
9 Colm Doherty
12 Tiernan Ruddy
17 Ruairi Connaghan
Subs
10 Thomas McDevitt
14 James McAteer
19 Oisin McHugh
99 Ronan Callaghan
Harps 2012s Lift Belfast Plate
Our 2012 side returned with the Belfast Plate after two hard days of football! They beat a strong Ballinamallard Utd side in the semi-finals before going on to beat Home Farm 2-1 in the final.
Congratulations to Oisin Sweeney who was awarded the Player of the Competition!
MU14s Welcome Cooney, Voronkin and Davies
We are delighted to announce 3 new signings who join up with our MU14 LOI Academy side. They are; Danny Óg Cooney, Jack Davies and Illia Voronkin We would like to thank the players previous clubs and coaches for the part they played in each players development.