Details

Date Time League Season
1 September 2023 7:45 pm LOI Men's First Division 2023

Match Report

Keogh leaves it late in Wexford to earn Harps point

Ten man Finn Harps broke Wexford hearts as a 95th minute equaliser by Seamas Keogh meant it finished 1-1 at Ferrycarrig Park

Chances for both sides fell in the opening ten minutes, Patrick Ferry was slipped through for Harps excellently but could only ripple the side netting at Wexford keeper’s Owen Mason’s front post from ten yards out a couple of minutes in. 

Aaron Dobbs had two efforts in quick succession for Wexford that went very close only five minutes later, firstly controlling a bobbling James Crawford cross before his strike was well saved by Rory Kelly. A heroic clearance by Jamie Watson directly after this save meant Thomas Oluwa was unable to finish the loose ball, but the danger was not entirely clear as Kian Corbally hooked the ball back into the area, where Dobbs rose highest only to head just over the bar.

Darragh Levingston produced a wonderful turn and strike 38 minutes into the affair after a quiet few minutes, but his curling effort from 20 yards flew just the wrong side of the right hand post.

Levingston had another go from the edge of the area, this time batted down by Kelly to safety a few minutes after halftime, but on his third effort 69 minutes in he would not be denied as he followed up on a breaking ball after Dobbs ran clear but was challenged at the last moment, to slot the ball cooly into the corner to put Wexford in the lead.

Wexford’s advantage was solidified after Harps captain Ryan Rainey was dismissed on 73 minutes for apparent violent conduct and dissent. 

Oluwa went close with a header a few minutes later but Wexford’s big chance to finish the game once again fell to Levingston who found himself completely alone in the right hand side of the box with immense amount of of time to pick his spot, but the young Wexford midfielder sliced across the ball and sent it well wide.

Wexford were left to rue that chance, as despite a fantastic close range save by Mason to deny Billy Banda at the death, the resulting corner turned into pinball within the Wexford area, allowing Seamas Keogh to prod the ball home to give Harps a point in the final moments of the match.

The point sees Wexford maintain their fifth place position, but they will feel this was a huge opportunity missed. To Harps the point will mean little in reviving their season but displayed an admirable fighting spirit in an exciting finish.

Wexford FC

1Owen Mason Goalkeeper
5Ethan Boyle Defender
10Aaron Dobbs 11 Forward
26Luke Browne Defender
13James Crawford Defender
23Cian O’Malley Defender
2Darragh Levingston Midfielder 69'
54'
20Reece Webb Defender
28Thomas Oluwa 14 Forward
12Luka Lovic 16 Midfielder
17Kian Corbally 9 Midfielder
3Ben Lynch Midfielder
11Mark Hanratty 10 Midfielder
4Hugh Douglas Defender
25Aaron Doran Midfielder
14Conor Levingston 28 Midfielder
18Charlie Heffernan Goalkeeper
16Corban Piper 12 Midfielder 84'
9Eoin Kenny 17 Forward

Finn Harps

31Rory Kelly Goalkeeper
12Stephen Doherty 10 Midfielder
26Tony McNamee Midfielder
30Jamie Watson Defender
27Patrick Ferry 20 Forward
42Max Hutchison Midfielder 58'
22Ryan Rainey Midfielder 73'
6Noe Baba Defender
7Ryan Flood Defender
14Caoimhin Porter 19 Defender
11Seamas Keogh Midfielder 95'
21Damian Duffy Midfielder
20Sean O’Donnell 27 Forward
15Kevin Jordan Defender
24Sean O’Kane Midfielder
3Max Johnston Forward
10Dan Stokoe 12 Midfielder
19BJ Banda 14 Forward 88'
  • 95'

    A crazy end to this game means spoils are shared at Ferrycarrig Park. Levingston scored to put Wexford ahead after 70 minutes and once Harps captain Rainey was sent off only three minutes later the side from Ulster looked beaten all ends up, but a last gasp corner led to Keogh poking home an equaliser to stun Wexford and delight the few travelling fans

  • 95'

    Harps score from the resulting corner! In a manic finish, the ball pinballs around the area until it comes to Keogh who is able to poke it home to give the ten men a huge point

  • 93'

    Harps almost equalise with only moments remaining! A super ball across the box by Flood to Banda in the middle by Mason comes up trumps with a huge save

  • 90'

    Five minutes added for Harps to try and get something out of this one, and attempt to not fall to their third consecutive 1-0 loss in the league

  • 86'

    Levingston has a golden chance to make it two, finding himself completely alone of the right hand side of the area, and with all the time in the world to pick his spot, the Wexford goalscorer completely misfires, slicing the ball well wide

  • 81'

    Harps have a penalty appeal turned down after Browne brought down O' Donnell in the area, nothing doing for the referee

  • 75'

    Oluwa gets his first chance of the game, flying into the box to connect with a cross excellently but can't direct the effort either side of Kelly in the goal

  • 73'

    Wexford gain even more of an advantage as Harps captain Rainey is dismissed for a mix of aggression and dissent it seems in the middle of the park. Harps down to ten.

  • 69'

    Levingston opens the scoring to put Wexford in front, following up as the ball comes out a challenge between Dobbs, who had left the Harps keeper stranded, and Hutchinson to cooly slot the ball into the corner after the ball fell to him on the edge of the area.

  • 58'

    Hutchison is next up for a card after bringing down Boyle

  • 54'

    Levingston is the first in the referees book

  • 53'

    Oluwa goes down under a heavy challenge here

  • 49'

    Levingston smashes one goal wards from the edge of the area but it is straight at the keeper who bats it down and away

  • 47'

    A Harps corner goes flying right across the face of the Wexford goal, absolutely begging for a telling touch, but none such finish is provided

  • 47'

    A Harps corner goes flying right across the face of the Wexford goal, absolutely begging for a telling touch, but none such finish is provided

  • 47'

    A Harps corner goes flying right across the face of the Wexford goal, absolutely begging for a telling touch, but none such finish is provided

  • 46'

    Doherty has a go acrobatically at the backrest after a cross made its way back to him, but his effort is blocked an d the danger is cleared by Wexford

  • 46'

    The referee gets the second half back underway here

  • 45'

    Halftime comes here and there is not much to split the two sides. Wexford have dominated the possession but failed to muster many clear chances, the same goes for Harps with the early chances for Ferry and Dobbs being the best opportunities for both sides. It seems a Wexford goal could open this game up, forcing Harps to come out a bit more attacking, but so far it remains Wexford 0-0 Finn Harps

  • 45'

    Two minutes additional time as Lovic returns to the action

  • 44'

    Lovic is down here for Wexford and looks in some discomfort

  • 43'

    Ambitious effort by Seamas Keogh for Harps from long range, blazing his powerful effort well over the bar.

  • 38'

    Wonderful curling effort by Darragh Levingston just outside the area had more than a few fans on the edge of their seats, but unfortunately for Wexford the ball whipped round the wrong side of the post

  • 32'

    Super sliding tackle by Watson denies Dobbs a shot at goal as he went slaloming through the rest of the Harps defence

  • 30'

    Wexford are moving the ball well from back to front in quick, incisive moves, but Harp's low block is keeping the much more blunt in the final third at the moment

  • 28'

    After a quick start the pace of the game has diminished slightly, both sides feeling their way into the encounter

  • 21'

    Dobbs thought he was through one on one with the keeper there, but a fantastic recovery run bey Hutchinson allowed him to get back around to make a crucial tackle.

  • 15'

    Finn Harps are sitting deep when Wexford have the ball, seemingly looking to counter once the ball is won back. Utilising the pace of Ferry up top seems key to this set up so far.

  • 13'

    Full blooded clash between Baba and Webb leaving both players in a heap, but both should be fine to continue

  • 7'

    Dobbs goes close twice in a matter of moments! A cross by Crawford buddies its way to the strikers feet who's volleyed effort is well saved and heroically hooked away by Harps defender Watson as Oluwa feared down on the loose ball. From the clearance, Corbally knocked it back up in the six yard box where Dobbs rose highest, but headed just over the bar.

  • 2'

    Sharp start by Harps in the opening five

  • 2'

    And only two minutes in we were nearly treated to the opening goal as a wonderful reverse pass set Patrick Ferry inside the box and on goal for Harps, but the forward only hit the side netting at Owen mason's front post

  • 1'

    Really a perfect evening for football; cool, dry and not a breath of wind. Can only wish for some exciting football to match the atmosphere

  • 1'

    We are underway here

  • As shown in the previous games between the two sides however, Finn Harps will not roll over easily in face of the South East side, both having won once, drawn once, and lost once to this evenings opposition in the other three matches played in this campaign. Harps sit ninth at the moment and cannot feel that is a fair reflection of their talents overall. Two 1-0 losses in their last two games will surely fuel them to make sure they can get something out of this fixture, and upset the Wexford promotion apple cart while doing so.

  • It's a crisply sunbathed Ferrycarrig Park that will play host to the final game between these sides this season on this calm September evening. Wexford know this is crunch time for their play off aspirations and with a faltering Finn Harps in their path tonight they must feel this is a game they must win to fulfil those ambitions.

Past Meetings

(Round 20)
0 - 1
LOI Men's First Division
Finn Park

Finn Harps FC 0-1 Wexford FC

(Round 10)
0 - 1
LOI Men's First Division
Ferrycarrig Park

Wexford FC 0-1 Finn Harps FC

(Round 4)
0 - 0
LOI Men's First Division
Finn Park

Finn Harps FC 0-0 Wexford FC

7:45 pm
LOI Men's Premier Division
Ferrycarrig Park

Wexford FC v Finn Harps FC

1
LOI Men's Premier Division
Finn Park

Finn Harps FC v Wexford FC

1 - 1
LOI Men's Premier Division
Ferrycarrig Park

Wexford FC v Finn Harps FC

Ground

Ferrycarrig Park
Ferrycarrig Park, Kilpatrick, The Borough District of Wexford, County Wexford, Leinster, Y35 E296, Ireland