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Date Time League Season
20 March 2021 6:00 pm LOI Men's Premier Division 2021

Match Report

Harps Catch Bohs Cold in Ballybofey

Finn Harps hosted Bohemians in the season opener in what proved to be a very tight game where the fancied visitors were unable to find a way back into the game after Adam Foley opened the scoring in the closing stages of the first half.

With neither team wanting to force the game early on it became a cagey affair, more like a strategic chess match than a war. As the game grew on Bohemians seemed to be taking control with some fine play and a couple of well drilled long throws by new signing Georgie Kelly and Rory Feely respectively.  

Having picked up the first booking of the game in the 27th minute of the game, Kosovar Sadiki seemed to offer Bohemians a chance to capitalise with a free kick just wide on the right of the 18-yard box. This however was floated in and was no trouble to Harps netminder McGinley. 

Soon after Bohemians defender Finnerty gifted an opportunity for Adam Foley as his poor back pass went straight into the Harp's midfielders' path who calmly round goalkeeper Talbot in the Bohemians' box and slotted into the empty net. 

Just before half time Bohemians were in on goal when Sadiki made a perfectly timed challenge in the box to sniff out any danger, any imperfection would have surely seen the big man to an early bath and a Bohemians penalty. 

The second half started pretty lively with Bohs probing for an equaliser with Georgie Kelly having a number of opportunities with only one troubling McGinley in the Harps net saving a strike from wide on the right with his feet.  

Within a minute of each other Harps Conor Barry and Karl O’Sullivan both left the field with injuries, with their replacements almost having an immediate impact. Ryan Shanley coming close before the referee blew his whistle for a Bohemians free kick.  

Bohemians continued to probe but the big man at centre half Sadiki, was dominant in the air seeing very little past him. Eventually Bohemians almost carved themselves an opportunity but for Kelly and substitute Oluwa getting in each other's way, leaving an easy ball for a grateful McGinley to collect.

The result sees Ollie Horgan's men join Drogheda United and Longford Town at the top of the table to form the most unlikely trio of league leaders.

Bohemians continued to probe however a stubborn Finn Harps refused to budge and held out with a good spell of play holding the ball in both corners of the Bohemians' end. 

Harps finished out the additional time with 10 men as Connolly left the field of play with a hamstring injury however his job was done as a minute later the referee blew the final whistle leaving bohemians with a long trip home to Drumcondra with any points on the board. 

Finn Harps

1Mark McGinley Goalkeeper
4Kosovar Sadiki Defender 27'
5Dave Webster Defender
6Ryan Connolly Midfielder
7Karl O’Sullivan 29 Forward 44'
10Conor Barry 17 Midfielder
11Barry McNamee 57 Midfielder
14Mark Coyle 28 Midfielder
16Shane McEleney Defender
19Adam Foley 9 Midfielder 38'
24Ethan Boyle Defender 87'
16Luke McNicholas Goalkeeper
9Sean Boyd 19 Forward 80'
11Mark Timlin Midfielder
17Mark Russell 10 Defender
26Tony McNamee Midfielder
28Will Seymore 14 Midfielder
29Ryan Shanley 7 Forward
#Babatunde Owolabi Forward
57Stephen Folan 11 Defender

Bohemians

1James Talbot Goalkeeper
3Anto Breslin Defender
4Rory Feely 2 Defender
5Rob Cornwall Defender
6Ciaran Kelly 10 Defender
8Ali Coote 17 Midfielder
11Liam Burt Midfielder
12Georgie Kelly Forward
16Keith Buckley Midfielder
18James Finnerty Defender
26Ross Tierney Midfielder
25Stephen McGuinness Goalkeeper
2Andy Lyons 4 Defender
10Keith Ward 6 Midfielder
17Thomas Oluwa 8 Forward
19Tyreke Wilson Defender
21Bastien Hery Midfielder
23Jack Moylan Midfielder
27Sean Grehan Defender
28Dawson Devoy Midfielder
  • 90'

    Finn Harps with a fantastic result at home beating Bohemians by 1-0.

  • 90'

    Connolly winding down time here down with a hamstring injury which ends his night

  • 90'

    Harps playing keep ball in the Bohemians corner

  • 90'

    Connolly showing experience holding the ball in the corner, results in a Bohemians throw

  • 90'

    Boyd gets through on goal but blasts over

  • 89'

    Bohemians go close as 5 minutes of added time is announced

  • 89'

    Harps holding on here heading into added time

  • 87'

    Ethan Boyle picks up a booking for a professional foul.

  • 84'

    Feely off for Lyons

  • 84'

    Feely off for Lyons

  • 84'

    McNamee makes way for Seymore

  • 84'

    Folan on for Coyle

  • 84'

    Folan on for Coyle

  • 80'

    Boyd goes into the book

  • 80'

    Into the final ten minutes here as Bohs continue to probe the Harp's defence

  • 77'

    Ward on for Kelly

  • 77'

    Kelly is off in Bohemians 2nd change

  • 76'

    Another long throw by Bohemians, Boyd clears for a corner.

  • 75'

    Ollie Horgan receives his first yellow of the season

  • 70'

    Finn Harps make their 3rd and final change. The goal scorer Adam Foley is off to be replaced by Sean Boyd

  • 70'

    Finn Harps make their 3rd and final change. The goal scorer Adam Foley is off to be replaced by Sean Boyd

  • 65'

    Bohemians first change Coote off for Oluwa

  • 65'

    Bohemians first change Coote off for Oluwa

  • 65'

    Finn Harps corner delivered by Connolly but Sadiki heads just over the bar

  • 61'

    Almost a 2nd for Harps but the referee blows the whistle for a Bohemians free

  • 56'

    Ryan Shanley comes on for Karl O’Sullivan

  • 56'

    Karl O'Sullivan goes off with an apparent groin strain. Replaced by Ryan Shanley.

  • 55'

    Mark Russell comes on for the injured Conor Barry

  • 55'

    Mark Russell comes on for the injured Conor Barry

  • 55'

    Kelly’s cross evades all and could have easily been an equaliser for Breslin

  • 54'

    Georgie Kelly really coming into this game and looks like Harps will need to keep an eye on him

  • 53'

    Teirney flicks on to Georgie Kelly but his shot is saved by McGinleys feet

  • 51'

    Chance for Bohemians as Kelly heads goalwards but doesn’t trouble McGinley

  • 48'

    Bohemians looking lively since the restart as they look for an equaliser

  • 46'

    Finn Harps get the 2nd half underway as they’ll look to hold onto their lead in this game.

  • 45'

    Half time here at Finn Park with Ollie Horgan the happier of the two managers as the home side lead. Finn Harps FC 1-0 Bohemian FC

  • 45'

    Both teams trying to finish the half strong resulting in a fantastic tackle by Sadiki in his own box.

  • 43'

    Foley takes a shot from a long way out but drifts wide

  • 43'

    Harsh yellow for Harps player O’Sullivan after a 50/50 challenge

  • 42'

    Bohemians free kick taken short and worked wide for a cross, ball bounces in the box but is shot into the side netting

  • 38'

    Finnerty makes a mistake at the back and the ball drops to Foley who rounds the keeper and calmly slots the ball into the empty net

  • 33'

    Finn Harps turn for a long throw this time cleared by Feely

  • 30'

    Taken short to McNamee, cross breaks back to him and his shot is driven well wide

  • 30'

    Barry McNamee wins Finn Harps first corner.

  • 28'

    Bohemians resulting free kick comes to nothing

  • 27'

    Sadiki pulls down Bohemians Kelly out wide results in the first yellow of the game

  • 24'

    Conor Barry shoots from wide for Finn Harps but goes just over

  • 24'

    Finn Harps free kick inside their own half but first office of the game by McEleney

  • 19'

    Another long throw in by Feely of Bohemians flicked on but gathered by McGinley

  • 18'

    Long throw in by Feely of Bohemians bounces around the edge of the box before eventually cleared

  • 14'

    Free kick bohemians edge of the box taken short, shot drilled into the crowd comes to nothing

  • 12'

    Corner taken, cleared by McNamee

  • 10'

    Corner to Bohemians, sent towards the back post cleared for another corner

  • 7'

    Corner floated in headed shot by Feely, easily gathered by McGinley in the Harps goal.

  • 6'

    Shot by Feely Bohemians blocked for corner

  • 4'

    Free kick for Finn Harps in the Bohemians half, taken by Ryan Connolly

  • 3'

    Free kick Finn Harps own half taken long

  • 1'

    And we're off. some tasty challenges here in the opening minute, but no side has managed to get control of the ball in the opening exchanges.

  • The teams are making their way onto the pitch at Finn Park as the anticipation is building amongst the few supporters gathered at Finn Park.

  • The teams are in, and you can find them using the 'Line Ups' tab above and we hope you're as excited as us to have the League back up and running.

  • Welcome to Finn Park for the first game of the new SSE Airtricity League season. Last season's runners up Bohemians provide the opposition for Finn Harps with what is a new look side for Keith Long's charges.

Past Meetings

(Series 17)
0 - 2
LOI Men's Premier Division
Dalymount Park

Bohemian FC v Finn Harps

(Series 8)
0 - 1
LOI Men's Premier Division
Finn Park

Finn Harps v Bohemian FC

1 - 0
LOI Men's Premier Division
Finn Park

Finn Harps FC v Bohemian FC

5 - 3
LOI Men's Premier Division
Dalymount Park

Bohemian FC v Finn Harps FC

0 - 1
LOI Men's Premier Division
Finn Park

Finn Harps FC v Bohemian FC

1 - 0
LOI Men's Premier Division
Dalymount Park

Bohemian FC v Finn Harps FC

3 - 1
LOI Men's Premier Division
Dalymount Park

Bohemian FC v Finn Harps FC

2 - 1
LOI Men's Premier Division
Finn Park

Finn Harps FC v Bohemian FC

2 - 0
LOI Men's Premier Division
Dalymount Park

Bohemian FC v Finn Harps FC

1
LOI Men's Premier Division
Finn Park

Finn Harps FC v Bohemian FC

2
LOI Men's Premier Division
Dalymount Park

Bohemian FC v Finn Harps FC

8:00 pm
LOI Men's Premier Division
Finn Park

Finn Harps FC v Bohemian FC

Officials

RefereeAssistantsFourth Official
Paul McLaughlinAlan Sherlock
Darren Corcoran
Damien MacGraith

Ground

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

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