Details

Date Time League Season
14 August 2021 7:30 pm LOI Men's Premier Division 2021

Match Report

In tune Harps beat Longford

Finn Harps cruised to a 3-0 victory over Longford Town at Bishopsgate this evening in the League Of Ireland Premier Division.

A Michael McDonald own goal and a goal each from Ryan Rainey and Sean Boyd boosts Ollie Horgan’s sides survival hopes.

Longford Town started the game off well with the majority of the possession in the first ten minutes. Sadly for Daire Doyle’s side, that was as good as it got during the first half.

Just inside the first 15 minutes, Jordan Mustoe burst down the Finn Harps left wing and his low driven cross into the box hit Michael McDonnell on the leg before rolling past Lee Steacy and in for a cruel own goal.

Longford Town struggled to get back into the game after this and Babatunde Owolabi caused the Town defence some serious trouble with his pace and strength throughout the half.

Ten minutes before half time, Longford cleared an out swinging corner from the away side but only as far as Ryan Rainey who was about twenty yards out. Rainey hit a screamer of a volley right into the top corner leaving Steacy with no chance, to double Harps lead in the first period.

Longford Town started the second half on the front foot with Ollie Horgan’s side seeming happy to defend their two goal lead. Aodh Dervin found centre half Michael McDonnell in acres of space inside the Harp’s box but it was a case of right place , wrong man as McGinley saved comfortably from close range.

Finn Harps did threaten on the counter inside the first ten minutes of the second period .Substitute Adam Foley raced down the left wing and crossed the ball into the big on rushing danger man Babatunde Owolabi but the striker couldn’t keep his effort down and on target. Dylan Grimes' free kick from the right wing was met by Aaron O’Driscoll at the front post but his header was relatively timid and was gathered easily by McGinley.

With just under ten minutes to play, Finn Harps manager Horgan was sent off for dissent and watched the final moments from the stands. Horgan’s last decision on the sideline was to bring Sean Boyd into the action. His decision was justified just moments later when Boyd headed home from McNamee’s corner to seal all three points for the Donegal side.

Longford Town

1Lee Steacy Goalkeeper
3Paddy Kirk Defender
5Michael McDonnell Midfielder 14'
7Dylan Grimes 25 Midfielder
8Rob Manley Forward
9Aaron Dobbs 15 Forward
12Aaron O’Driscoll Defender
14Darragh Nugent Midfielder
15Dean Williams 24 Forward
16Aodh Dervin Midfielder 59'
21Aaron McNally Defender
4Aaron Robinson Midfielder
6Dean Zambra Midfielder
15Aaron McCabe 9 Midfielder
17Matthew O’Brien Midfielder
19Karl Chambers Forward
22Joseph Manley Defender
24Callum Warfield 15 Forward 94'
25Conor Davis 7 Forward
30Michael Kelly Goalkeeper

Finn Harps

1Mark McGinley Goalkeeper 82'
3Jordan Mustoe Defender
4Kosovar Sadiki Defender
5Dave Webster Defender
6Ryan Connolly 8 Midfielder 15'
11Barry McNamee Midfielder
16Shane McEleney Defender
17Dan Hawkins 19 Forward
22Ryan Rainey Midfielder 36'
45'
28Will Seymore Midfielder 43'
45Babatunde Owolabi 9 Forward 57'
Luke Rudden Forward
8Johnny Dunleavy 6 Defender
9Sean Boyd 45 Forward 83'
19Adam Foley 17 Forward
20Niall Logue Defender
21Stephen Doherty Midfielder
23Joel Bradley-Walsh Defender
40Gerard Doherty Goalkeeper
  • 95'

    And it's all over here with Finn Harps winning 3-0.

  • 95'

    Paddy Kirk lucky not have given away a penalty here after his challenge on Boyd.

  • 92'

    Ryan Rainey is replaced by Joel Bradley Walsh.

  • 89'

    McCabe replaces Dobbs. Into the final few minutes here at Bishopsgate.

  • 83'

    Goal for Finn Harps. Sean Boyd is only on the pitch a matter of moments and his header from McNamee's corner is headed home excellently.

  • 79'

    McGinley booked for time wasting.

  • 79'

    Kirk's free kick is blocked by the wall but McNally's follow up shot flashes just wide. Just over ten minutes to go.

  • 77'

    And Ollie Horgan has been sent to the stands by the referee.

  • 69'

    Dunleavy replaces Connolly who has been excellent tonight for the away side

  • 66'

    Nugent plays Warfield through on goal but his effort is timid and rolls straight into the awaiting arms of McGinley.

  • 62'

    Warfield replaces Williams.

  • 62'

    McNally balls finds Manley but his effort off his left is an easy save for McGinley.

  • 59'

    Dervin booked for Longford Town.

  • 58'

    Owolabi booked.

  • 55'

    Grimes' free kick is met by Aaron O'Driscoll but his header is saved by McGinley. Longford growing into the game now.

  • 52'

    Dervin with a great ball into McDonnell who's effort from a few yards out is saved well by McGinley.

  • 50'

    Owolabi gets on the end of Foley's chipped cross into the box but his header goes over the bar.

  • 46'

    Foley replaces Hawkins

  • 45'

    Both teams back out on the pitch here ahead of the second period.

  • 45'

    Half Time here at Bishopsgate with Finn Harps leading by two goals to nil. Great entertaining first period.

  • 45'

    Ryan Rainey booked for his challenge on Grimes and Ollie Horgan gets booked also for discent on the bench.

  • 44'

    McNally dispossesses Owolabi and tries his luck from distance but his effort goes just wide.

  • 43'

    Seymore booked for Harps.

  • 36'

    Ryan Rainey with a screamer of a volley from outside the box into the top right corner.

  • 34'

    What a save from McGinley to deny Dervin from 20 yards. Longford trying to get numbers forward in the attacks now.

  • 33'

    Owolabi causing Longford Town some real problems with his pace and power.

  • 26'

    Nugent tries his luck from distance but was never going to trouble McGinley.

  • 22'

    Hawkins cuts in from the left wing and unleashes a shot off his right which goes just wide of the Longford goal.

  • 19'

    Mustoe comes close again after Owolabi knicked the ball inside the Longford box. Mustoe's shot from the edge of the box goes straight at Steacy and ends up being a comfartable save for the keeper.

  • 15'

    Connolly booked for a very bad challenge. Lucky it's only a yellow

  • 13'

    And a goal for Harps, Mustoe broke down the left and his cross hits McDonnell and rolls into the net.

  • 13'

    Dan Hawkins hits the bar with a half volley just inside the Town box. Harps gowing into the game here.

  • 10'

    Owolabi with Harp's best chance so far. McNamee finds the striker inside the home box but his shot is deflected wide.

  • 7'

    Big chance for Longford, Manley's low cross into Dobbs causes the Harps defense some trouble but Dobbs can't direct the ball goalwards.

  • 3'

    Dylan Grimes with an early chance after his cross turn shot was just touched out by McGinley. Good start from the hosts.

  • 1'

    And we're underway here at Bishopsgate.

  • Both teams arriving out onto the pitch now.

  • Overcast but dry conditions here in Longford.

  • Just over ten minutes to go until kick off here at Bishopsgate. Huge game for both sides tonight with three points vital to the two teams to avoid relegation.

  • Longford Town Starting XI: Steacy, Kirk, McDonnell, Grimes, Manley, Dobbs, Williams, O'Driscoll, Nugent, Dervin, McNally.

  • Finn Harps Starting XI: McGinley, Mustoe, Sadiki, Webster, Connolly, McNamee, McEleney, Hawkins, Rainey, Seymore, Owolabi.

  • Hello and welcome to finalwhistle.ie for tonight's coverage of Longford Town and Finn Harps in the League of Ireland First Division. Team news for both sides to follow in the next hour.

Past Meetings

(Series 18)
1 - 1
LOI Men's Premier Division
Finn Park

Finn Harps v Longford Town

(Series 6)
0 - 0
LOI Men's Premier Division
Bishopsgate, Longford

Longford Town v Finn Harps

1
LOI Men's Premier Division
Finn Park

Finn Harps FC v Longford Town FC

2
LOI Men's Premier Division
Bishopsgate, Longford

Longford Town FC v Finn Harps FC

1
LOI Men's Premier Division
Finn Park

Finn Harps FC v Longford Town FC

Ground

Bishopsgate, Longford
City Calling Stadium, L50021, Mullolagher, Cloondara ED, Longford Municipal District, County Longford, Leinster, Ireland

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