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Date Time League Season
3 March 2023 8:00 pm LOI Men's First Division 2023

Match Report

Finn Harps and Bray share spoils in Finn Park

The points were split in Ballybofey as Finn Harps held Bray Wanderers to a 1-1 draw.

The two sides went into the match as near polar opposites. Bray Wanderers looked an inspired outfit under new manager Ian Ryan’s leadership, taking six points from their first two matches for the first time in four years, as they overcame both Treaty United and Kerry FC in style.

On the other side of that coin was Finn Harps who were looking out of sorts before this match as Dave Rogers had previously failed to get his sides moving, notching 0 points from matches against Athlone and Galway United.

As things got underway in Finn Park, it looked to be playing out as expected, Bray looking the more comfortable outfit in possession moving the ball up into Harp’s final third swiftly and smoothly. Harps on the other hand were reduced to a  seemingly more agricultural brand of football, spraying long balls up the pitch and trying to catch The Seagulls on the counter. At one point a hoofed pass forward travelled so wayward it bashed off Finn Park’s gantry.  

Despite this slightly rudimentary style of football, it was Harps who took the lead-and did it with great technical panache. Ryan Flood stood over a free kick just placed on the D, 20 yards out and struck the ball succulently. The ball flew wide of the wall, hit the post and in, leaving keeper Alex Moody rooted to the spot.

To their credit, Bray responded with vigour, pushing the intensity and lingering in Harps’ final third for long stretches. Still, they lacked that killer final pass. It looked to be more of the same when a cross was played into Harp’s box and comfortably cleared. Enter Harry Groome who caught the clearance on the volley sweetly and tucked the ball away in the bottom left corner.

For most of the ensuing period the two teams were stuck in perpetual deadlock, Bray held more possession but failed to unlock the Harps’ defence. The Wicklow outfit had a significant amount of corners in the first half but failed to utilize Cole Omorehiomwan who had proved to be a menacing aerial threat the previous weekend when he scored two headers against Kerry.

The second half was a far quieter affair, the two sides struggling to find means of a breakthrough, the best chance falling to Harp’s Daniel Okwute who found himself unmarked twelve yards out, but could only produce a scuffed volley that bumbled towards the goal at snail pace.

Dave Roger's squad will hope this result can galvanize their season and kickstart their push for promotion. Meanwhile, Bray will rue the fact they weren't able to produce many moments of quality with their lion's share of possession.

Finn Harps

1Tim Heimer Goalkeeper
4Daithi McCallion Defender
5Keith Cowan Defender
6Noe Baba Defender 51'
7Ryan Flood Defender 15'
10Michael Harris Forward
11Seamas Keogh 8 Midfielder
14Caoimhin Porter Defender 81'
18Ellis Farrar Defender
19Daniel Okwute 12 Forward 55'
22Ryan Rainey 20 Midfielder
40Oisin Farrell Goalkeeper
8Katlego Mashigo 11 Midfielder
9Filip Da Silva Forward
12Cian Lynch 19 Forward
15Kevin Jordan Defender
20Sean O’Donnell 22 Forward
21Damian Duffy Midfielder
23Jamie McKinney Midfielder
23Sean O’Kane Midfielder

Bray Wanderers

1Alex Moody Goalkeeper
2Eoin Farrell 3 Forward
7Conor Crowley Midfielder
8Harry Groome 23 Midfielder 30'
9Chris Lyons 16 Forward
11Ger Shortt 10 Forward 57'
12Cole Omorehiomwan Defender
14Dane Massey Defender
18Max Murphy Midfielder
19Jake Walker Forward
21Guillermo Almirall 6 Midfielder
25Stephen McGuinness Goalkeeper
3Len O’Sullivan 2 Defender
4Jack Hudson Defender
6Luka Lovic 21 Midfielder
10Conor Davis 11 Forward
16Callum Thompson 9 Forward
20Conor Knight Midfielder
23Joe Power 8 Midfielder
24Zach Donohue Defender
  • It's a big result for Dave Roger's squad who pick up their first points of the campaign, and they'll hope this result can galvanize their season. Bray drop their first points of the season after a perfect start and will rue the fact they weren't able to produce many moments of quality with their lion's share of possession.

  • Full-time here in Finn Park. Finn Harps 1-1 Bray Wanderers.

  • 90'

    Five minutes of added time. Can either side break the deadlock?

  • 89'

    Harps go close again! A glancing header goes unanswered but just drifts past the left post.

  • 81'

    Caoimhin Porter carded for a poor challenge.

  • 75'

    Both teams still struggling to find the breakthrough. It would certainly be a great result for Harps if they can hold Bray to a point.

  • 68'

    A great opportunity for Harps as Mashigo finds the ball on the half-volley 12 yards out. He stumbles over while winding the shot up and produces a weak effort.

  • 66'

    A new batch of substitutions from both sides have been introduced.

  • 61'

    The free is woefully overhit by Crowley, as the ball flies over every players head and draws jeers from the home fans.

  • 61'

    Ger Shortt picks up the ball in his own half and carries the ball all the way up. Wins a free on the edge of Haprs box.

  • 58'

    Thompson on for Almirall. Lynch on for Okwute.

  • 56'

    And it's a brilliant chance for Daniel Okwute. He breaks behind Bray's backline and receives a brilliant ball to latch on to. He's one on one with Omorehiomwan who is bundled over, and it's deemed a foul by referee Paul Norton.

  • 51'

    Baba picks up a yellow card for a late challenge.

  • 50'

    And the stream's back!

  • 46'

    We're back underway in Ballybofey. Unfortunately, the LOI TV Stream has gone down for the time being but we hope it'll be back up and running soon enough.

  • Half time. Finn Harps 1-1 Bray Wanderers.

  • 44'

    Bray with another corner but struggling to find their man. Harps will surely be keeping a close eye on Cole Omorehiomwan who has proved himself to be quite the aerial threat bagging a brace last weekend against Kerry-both headers.

  • 38'

    Things have kept chugging along here. Both sides in effective deadlock, Bray looking the slight bit more threatening but are struggling to play that killer final pass.

  • 30'

    Goal! It starts off as a quick counter from Bray before what seemed to be a wasted cross as it was cleared initially by the Harps defence. Up steps Harry Groome who hits an absolute peach of a valley from that initial clearance, burying it in the bottom left corner.

  • 26'

    Harps passing has become significantly better as the game\'s matured. They\'ve been playing a lot of long diagonals that Bray have had a lot of trouble dealing with.

  • 20'

    Bray have responsed with vigour in search of an equaliser. Far more aggressive and spending a lot more time in Harps\'final third.

  • 15'

    And it\'s a goal for Ryan Flood! He strikes it sweetly on his left foot, sends the ball around the wall, and bang off the post! Moody left stranded.

  • 14'

    Free kick for Harps 20 yards out, centre of goal...

  • 14'

    Long ball style from Harps hasn't been incredibly effective so far. A long ball from the defense goes wayward and bangs off the home side's gantry.

  • 9'

    Pace of the game looks to be forming quite early. Bray holding most of the possession while Harps look to counter and spray those long balls up field as fast as possible.

  • 5'

    It's been an interesting start to the match. Andy Lyons with the best chance so far-receives a lovely cross from Conor Crowley but just can't get the right connection with his head, the ball flying well over the bar.

  • 1'

    And we\'re off! The hosts get it started after a brief moment of silence to mark the unfortunate passing of two long-time Harps fans.

  • Finn Harps gaffer Dave Rogers on his side's run of form: “Last Friday’s result was disappointing having gone in ahead at half-time but we now have an opportunity to learn lessons from the areas we are being punished and go out and put them right. People hopefully understand that this is a brand new group of players who are gaining experience day by day and week by week so there will be bumps along the way...Our supporters have been outstanding in both games so far this season both home and away and I know the Finn Harps faithful will get out behind this young squad again on Friday night and cheer them on all the way.”

  • Speaking on Finn Harps, Ryan knows form can be deceptive. “It’s going to be hard. They haven’t started as well as they would have hoped or liked. That might go against us as they might have a big crowd backing them. They’ll be doing all they can to get their first points on the board. We’ll go up there with a plan. Hopefully, it will work.” It’s hard to get a pattern of how teams are playing. Things might take shape after a series of games. Knowing (Finn Harps manager) Dave Rogers, he plays really good football. They are dynamic; quick, and aggressive. So, we have some idea what they will be like.”

  • Speaking ahead of the game, Wanderers manager Ian Ryan expressed his delight at his team's rich vein of form but understands they need to stay composed ahead of a long season. “It’s been brilliant. We can’t ask for more after two games. But we can’t get carried away,” he said. “We’re only two games into our whole season. We’ll take a bit of confidence out of it. But we know we can get better. There’s still lots to work on.”

  • And it's the same for Finn Harps, as Noe Baba steps in for Katlego Mashigo.

  • Just the one change for The Seagulls from their previous outing against Kerry. Left-back Len O'Sullivan picked up a knock in that fixture and has had his place filled by Eoin Farell.

  • Good evening and welcome along to this match report of Finn Harps vs Bray Wanderers. So far it's been a tale of two different seasons in the match. Ian Ryan's Bray squad has gotten out of the blocks well this season, winning both of their opening fixtures against Treaty United and Kerry. It's been the polar opposite for Finn Harp's as new manager Dave Rogers has struggled to get his team moving, picking up 0 points so far, coming up short against both Athlone and Galway.

Past Meetings

7 - 5
eLOI Group D
Online Event

Finn Harps v Bray Wanderers

(2nd Round)
0 - 2
FAI Cup
Carlisle Grounds

Bray Wanderers v Finn Harps

2 - 3
LOI Men's Premier Division
Carlisle Grounds

Bray Wanderers FC v Finn Harps FC

3
LOI Men's Premier Division
Finn Park

Finn Harps FC v Bray Wanderers FC

5 - 3
LOI Men's Premier Division
Carlisle Grounds

Bray Wanderers FC v Finn Harps FC

2 - 1
LOI Men's Premier Division
Finn Park

Finn Harps FC v Bray Wanderers FC

1
LOI Men's Premier Division
Carlisle Grounds

Bray Wanderers FC v Finn Harps FC

1
LOI Men's Premier Division
Finn Park

Finn Harps FC v Bray Wanderers FC

Ground

Finn Park
Finn Park, Navenny Street, Stranorlar Electoral Division, Lifford-Stranorlar Municipal District, County Donegal, F93 Y27K, Ireland

Alex is a second-year Journalism student at DCU. As well as being a soccer enthusiast, he's also an avid athletics fan, competing in the sport for over ten years.