Details

Date Time League Season
1 November 2021 8:00 pm LOI Men's Premier Division 2021

Match Report

Harps and Drogheda end scoreless

Finn Harps will definitely feel like it was two points dropped rather than one point gained, as they were held to a 0-0 draw against Drogheda United at Finn Park in the League of Ireland Premier Division.

Both Sean Boyd and Jake Hyland were shown straight red cards in the second period in a feisty affair in Ballybofey.

Ollie Horgan’s side dominated the majority of possession throughout the game but remain in the battle for survival heading into the final few fixtures of the season.

Pete Mahon’s men almost got off to the ideal start when Dane Massey’s shot was saved by McGinley but only out as far as Mark Doyle who slotted home from close range. Sadly, for Drogheda United, the linesman raised his flag for offside. That was as good as it got for the visitors during the first period, and they allowed Finn Harps to have the majority of the ball through the half.

After a quarter of on hour played, Ethan Boyle won the ball inside the Drogheda half before slotting Babatunde Owolabi through on goal. The inform striker dragged his effort just to the left of the post to let Drogheda off the hook.

Moments later Barry McNamee’s inch perfect through ball found Sean Boyd. The Finn Harps number nine hit his shot towards the Drogheda net but, Dane Massey’s all important deflected sent the ball out for a corner.

The resulting corner found the head of Boyd yet again who flicked the ball onto the back net where David Webster met it. Webster was unable to direct his effort on target and the ball rolled out for a goal kick. The sides went in level at the break.

Finn Harps again looked to be on the front and almost opened the scoring when left back, Jordan Mustoe’s cross found the head of Sean Boyd but his effort was comfortably saved by Odumoso. With just over 70 minutes on the clock, the game burst into life. Gary Deegan’s free kick forced a good save out of McGinley before Harps raced down the other end on the counterattack. Jake Hyland was then shown a straight red card for his poor tackle on Owolabi.

As the final whistle edged closer, Barry McNamee found Owolabi inside the Drogheda area with a beautiful, chipped pass. Owolabi couldn’t keep his header down and it looped over the bar.

With just under five minutes of normal time remaining, Sean Boyd was fouled by Deegan while counter attacking for the hosts. Boyd reacted furiously resulting in a straight red card for Boyd, meaning both sides were now down to ten men. The game ended scoreless and Finn Harps still have it all to do if they’re to jump out of the relegation zone.

Finn Harps

1Mark McGinley Goalkeeper
3Jordan Mustoe Defender 4'
4Kosovar Sadiki Defender
5Dave Webster Defender
6Ryan Connolly Midfielder 88'
9Sean Boyd Forward 86'
11Barry McNamee 28 Midfielder
14Mark Coyle 17 Midfielder
16Shane McEleney 7 Defender
24Ethan Boyle Defender 71'
45Babatunde Owolabi 19 Forward
7Karl O’Sullivan 16 Forward
8Johnny Dunleavy Defender
10Mark Timlin Midfielder
17Dan Hawkins 14 Forward
19Adam Foley 45 Forward
22Ryan Rainey Midfielder
28Will Seymore 11 Midfielder
40Gerard Doherty Goalkeeper

Drogheda Utd

23David Odumosu Goalkeeper
2James Browne Defender
3Conor Kane Defender
5Daniel O’Reilly Defender
8Gary Deegan Midfielder
11Jake Hyland Midfielder 73'
14Mark Doyle Forward
20Joe Redmond Defender
20Jordan Adeyemo 10 Forward
21Luke Heeney 19 Midfielder
41Dane Massey Defender
1Colin McCabe Goalkeeper
7Darragh Markey Midfielder
10Dinny Corcoran 20 Forward
15Mohamed Boudiaf Defender
17Ronan Murray Forward
19Killian Phillips 21 Midfielder
22James Clarke Midfielder
25Kaleem Simon Midfielder
31Ahu Obhakhan Forward
  • 90'

    And it's all over here at Finn Park in what was an entertaining but scoreless affair.

  • 86'

    And it's starting to kick off here and Sean Boyd has been shown a straught red card for an off the ball incident.

  • 83'

    McNamee's chipped cross finds Owolabi but his header loops over the crossbar.

  • 81'

    Coyle is replaced by Hawkins with just under ten minutes remaining.

  • 73'

    Drogheda have been reduced to ten men after Hyland was shown a straight red card for his poor tackle on Owolabi.

  • 72'

    Deegan's free kick is saved well by McGinley.

  • 71'

    Boyle booked for his tackle on Mark Doyle.

  • 64'

    The game has become quite sloppy in the last few minutes with neither side able to bring the ball down and keep control when in possession.

  • 57'

    Mustoe's excellent cross is met by Boyd but Odumoso is equal to it. Just under an hour played.

  • 49'

    Sean Boyd with a half chance, O'Sullivan finds Boyd just outside the area but his shot goes wide.

  • 46'

    McEleney replaced by Karl O'Sullivan.

  • 46'

    Killian Phillips and Dinny Corcoran replace Luke Heeney and Jordan Adeyemo for Drogheda.

  • Both sides back out onto the pitch ahead of the second period.

  • Half time here in Ballybofey with neither side able to make the breakthrough during the first 45 minutes.

  • 45'

    Connolly tries his luck from distance but his left footed strike goes high and wide of the target.

  • 38'

    Still all Finn Harps here with the hosts dominating possession but struggling to turn all their time on the ball into a goal.

  • 28'

    Finn Harps started quite sluggish but have dominated the last 15 minutes here.

  • 19'

    The follow up corner is met by Sean Boyd again and his flick on finds Webster who can't direct his effort on target.

  • 17'

    McNamee with a defence splitting through ball into Boyd who fired across the Drogheda net and goes wide after a slight deflection.

  • 15'

    Ethan Boyle plays the ball into the danger man Owolabi but the Finn Harps lone striker drags his effort wide from just inside the area.

  • 9'

    Hyland with another opportunity for the visitors but he snaps at his shot inside the box and it goes wide of the Harps' goal.

  • 5'

    Drogheda put the ball in the back of net through Mark Doyle but the linesman raises his flag for offside.

  • 4'

    Jordan Mustoe booked for a poor challenge and will be skating on thin ice for the remaining 86 minutes or so.

  • 3'

    Early save for Odumesso, Coyle's header from the corner goes straight at the Drogs' keeper.

  • 1'

    And we're underway, Drogheda attacking the Town End.

  • Both sides out onto the pitch here, kick off shortly.

  • Just moments away from kick off here at Finn Park. Three points for either side will be vital towards securing safety in the Premier Division.

  • Drogheda United: Odumoso, Brown, Kane, O'Reilly, Deegan, Hyland, Doyle, Adeyemo, Heeney, Redmond, Massey.

  • Sadiki and Owolabi return to the starting side, replacing Rainey and O'Sullivan. Finn Harps Starting XI: McGinley, Mustoe, Sadiki, Webster, Connolly, Boyd, McNamee, Coyle, McEleney, Boyle, Owolabi.

  • Hello and welcome to finalwhistle.ie for tonight's clash between Finn Harps and Drogheda United in Ballybofey. My name is Luke Delaney and I will be taking you through live updates and text commentary throughout the game.

Past Meetings

(Series 19)
3 - 1
LOI Men's Premier Division
Weavers Park

Drogheda United v Finn Harps

(Series 12)
0 - 1
LOI Men's Premier Division
Finn Park

Finn Harps v Drogheda United

3 - 2
eLOI Group D
Online Event

Finn Harps v Drogheda United

(Series 3)
1 - 1
LOI Men's Premier Division
Weavers Park

Drogheda United v Finn Harps

2 - 3
LOI Men's Premier Division
Finn Park

Finn Harps FC v Drogheda United FC

0 - 2
LOI Men's Premier Division
Weavers Park

Drogheda United FC v Finn Harps FC

0 - 2
LOI Men's Premier Division
Finn Park

Finn Harps FC v Drogheda United FC

Ground

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

Luke is a final year Journalism student in DCU. He is a Sports Reporter for Wicklow People Sport and FinalWhistle.ie.