1 v 1 
Longford TownDetails
| Date | Time | League | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28 April 2023 | 8:00 pm | LOI Men's First Division | 2023 |
Match Report
Silva and Dervin net as Harps and Town share spoils
Finn Harps extended their unbeaten run to four games as they were held to a score draw by Longford Town at Finn Park.
Filip Da Silva put the home side ahead in the 35th minute but Town drew level three minutes before the break with a well taken strike from Aodh Dervin.
The result ends a run of three defeats in a row at the hands of Harps for the Midlands club.
The visitors were the better side in the opening 25 minutes of the game with Harps keeper Tim Heimer the busier of the two keepers.
In the eighth minute Josh Giurgi rounded Heimer, he played the ball back to Jamal Ibrahim but his effort was cleared off the line by Daithi McCallion. In the 15th minute Heimer brought off an excellent save to deny Ibrahim.
Giurgi hit his snapshot wide in the 20th minute while Shane Elworthy’s effort was saved by Heimer in the 22nd minute.
Harps had a good chance to open the scoring in the 25th minute; a great ball into the box from Seamus Keogh met the head of Shane McGonagle but he directed his effort just over. Minutes later Town keeper Jack Brady pulled off a fine save to deny Keogh.
The home side took the lead in the 35th minute; Ryan Flood’s corner from the right was finished to the net from close range by Da Silva. Flood brought a save out of Brady minutes later.
Before the break the Town began to press for an equaliser. Dervin brought a fine save out of Heimer in the 42nd minute. From the resulting corner, the ball was eventually cleared by Keith Cowan but it fell to Dervin and he made no mistake with a great strike to the bottom corner of the net.
Ellis Farrar had a good chance for Harps inside the opening minute of the second half but his header sailed over the bar. Down the other end Giurgi had a chance.
Both sides had opportunities to get a second goal but couldn’t find a way past either Heimer or Brady.
Timeline
| Filip Da Silva | 35' | |
| 42' | 8. Aodh Dervin | |
| Shane McMonagle Daniel Okwute | 46' | |
| 47' | 2. Shane Elworthy | |
| 18. Ellis Farrar | 48' | |
| Keith Cowan | 51' | |
| Caoimhin Porter Katlego Mashigo | 65' | |
| 67' | Darragh Lynch Stephen Meaney | |
| 11. Ryan Rainey | 68' | |
| 74' | Jamal Ibrahim Mohamed Boudiaf | |
| 75' | Gary Armstrong Ross Fay | |
| Keith Cowan Michael Harris | 78' | |
| 81' | 3. Kyle O'Connor | |
| 92' | Adam Verdon Evan Farrell |
Past Meetings
|
(Round 5)
0 - 1LOI Men's First Division
Bishopsgate, Longford Longford Town FC 0-1 Finn Harps FC |
|
(Series 36)
5 - 0LOI Men's Premier Division
Finn Park Finn Harps v Longford Town |
|
(Series 24)
0 - 3LOI Men's Premier Division
Bishopsgate, Longford Longford Town v Finn Harps |
|
(Series 18)
1 - 1LOI Men's Premier Division
Finn Park Finn Harps v Longford Town |
|
(Series 6)
0 - 0LOI Men's Premier Division
Bishopsgate, Longford Longford Town v Finn Harps |
1LOI Men's Premier Division
Finn Park Finn Harps FC v Longford Town FC |
2LOI Men's Premier Division
Bishopsgate, Longford Longford Town FC v Finn Harps FC |
1LOI Men's Premier Division
Finn Park Finn Harps FC v Longford Town FC |
Ground
| Finn Park |
|---|
| Finn Park, Navenny Street, Stranorlar Electoral Division, Lifford-Stranorlar Municipal District, County Donegal, F93 Y27K, Ireland |
Deniese O'Flaherty
Deniese is a freelance sports journalist/broadcaster. She has worked for several local and national media outlets. GAA and soccer are her great loves and she also follows rugby league and snooker. She's a big supporter of her local clubs St. Mary's GAA Granard and Longford Town. She also follows Celtic, Liverpool and Leeds Rhinos. She presented and produced a popular sports podcast last year where she interviewed Ray Houghton, Chris Kamara and John Hartson. Deniese is currently Head of Communications for Boccia Ireland
Corner for Harps
Good defending from the Town
Adam Verdon is off
Evan Farrell is on for Town
Corner for the visitors
Good ball in from Elworthy but no one there to connect with and Heimer is out to gather
Harps applying the pressure here
Kyle O'Connor is booked
Keith Cowan goes off
Michael Harris is on
McCallion heads wide.
And from that free, Cian Byrne puts the ball out for a corner
Free for Harps
Gary Armstrong is off
Ross Fay is on
Jamal Ibrahim goes off injured
Mohamed Boudiaf is on
Darragh Lynch goes off
Stephen Meaney is on
Caoimhin Porter goes off
Katlego Mashigo is on for Harps
Nothing much to report here.
Keith Cowan is booked
Ellis Farrar is booked
Ryan Flood with a good ball in but Ellis Farrar hits it over the bar
Shane Elworthy is booked
Shane McGonagle is off
Daniel Okwute is on
That goal was well deserved for the visitors. Good game so far
Aodh Dervin levels for the Town. Nice strike
Aodh Dervin brings a fine save out of Heimer
Ryan Flood brings a save out of Brady
Harps had been coming more into the game.
Filip Da Silva with the goal. Ryan Flood\'s corner swung in and finished from close range
And another corner for Harps. Keogh wins it this time
Corner for the home side
Great save from Jack Brady from a fine strike by Seamus Keogh. Nice football from Harps
A great ball into the box by Seamus Keogh and it was headed over the bar by Shane McGonigle. Good effort
Shane Elworthy brings a save out of Heimer. The Harps keeper has been the busiest so far
Giurgi with a snapshot that is wide
Excellent save from Tim Heimer from a Ibrahim header.
Another corner for the visitors
Dervin's corner has too much on it
Corner for the Town
Good ball into the box but Jack Brady was able to take
Good play from Longford. Josh Giurgi got around the keeper, played the ball back to Jamal Ibrahim but his effort was cleared off the line by Daithi McCallion
The visitors getting into the game. So far decent football from both sides
Harps have started lively
Ryan Rainey with a low strike but it's well wide
Harps have won the last three games between the sides. The visitors have a poor record in Ballybofey. The last time they picked up one point there was in 2021 while their last win was nearly five years ago. Aodh Dervin on target in a 4-2 win for the Town.
When the two sides met earlier this season Ryan Rainey's penalty proved the difference as Harps won 1-0
The home side are looking to extend their unbeaten run to four games this evening while the visitors will hope to build on last week's 1-1 draw with Bray Wanderers.
Good evening and welcome to Final Whistle's coverage of Finn Harps and Longford Town. Deniese O'Flaherty here to keep you up to date on events in Ballybofey