Details

Date Time League Season
11 June 2021 8:00 pm LOI Men's Premier Division 2021

Match Report

Rovers and Harps draw in Tallaght

Shamrock Rovers had to settle for a 1-1 draw against Finn Harps at Tallaght Stadium this evening. Both sides were playing for the first time in over a year in front of fans.

Aaron Greene opened the scoring into a gaping net after a mistake from Kosovar Sadiki. Adam Foley would equalise for Harps from the tightest of angles after a through ball from Barry McNamee; as the sides shared the spoils.

The first 45 minutes was dominated by the home outfit, spurred on by a thousand fans. The likes of Rory Gaffney, Danny Mandroiu and Green linked up excellently as Rovers dominated proceedings.

The pressure exerted on Mark McGinley’s goal would pay off, as Gaffney pressured the indecisive Sadiki into a mistake. Through on goal, the number 20 was selfless and passed to Greene who couldn’t miss.

After several other quick moves before half-time, with Gaffney and Mandroiu often the architects, the Hoops would have wondered why they weren’t up by more.

Ollie Horgan wasn’t content for his side to go down easily though, and with some tactical changes in the break, he tried to mirror Rovers’ five at the back formation.

This instantly changed the dynamic of the game, with the hard-working Harps midfield giving the opposition no time, and the centre-backs less exposed.

Foley would then pick up McNamee’s pass from the right, cut into the box, and with no options in the centre he opted to shoot. Alan Mannus will be disappointed to have been beaten at the near post, and through his legs.

Chances for either side meant both ‘keepers had to be on their toes. Tunde Owolabi showed quick feet to tear past Liam Scales and fire wide. While at the other end Gary O’Neill’s deflected strike had McGinley scrambling.

Despite two penalty shouts for Stephen Bradley’s men, there was no ‘Bradley time’ drama, as Harps kept up their impressive work-rate to grab a point.

For Shamrock Rovers it’s another disappointing result in an up and down stretch of games. Ollie Horgan on the other hand will be delighted, as Harps ended a long run of losses against the Hoops, thanks to a clever tactical switch.

Shamrock Rovers

1Alan Mannus Goalkeeper
2Sean Gannon Defender
3Sean Hoare Defender 28'
5Lee Grace Defender
9Aaron Greene Forward 9'
14Daniel Mandriou Midfielder
15Liam Scales Defender
16Gary O’Neill 19 Midfielder
20Rory Gaffney Forward
24Max Murphy 10 Midfielder 47'
26Chris McCann Midfielder
25Leon Pohls Goalkeeper
10Graham Burke 24 Forward
19Dean Williams 16 Forward
21Adam Wells Defender
22Darragh Nugent Midfielder
27Dean McMenamy Midfielder
34Conan Noonan Midfielder
38Aidomo Emakhu Midfielder

Finn Harps

1Mark McGinley Goalkeeper
4Kosovar Sadiki Defender
5Dave Webster Defender 63'
7Karl O’Sullivan Forward
11Barry McNamee 6 Midfielder
14Mark Coyle Midfielder 42'
16Shane McEleney Defender
19Adam Foley 9 Forward 56'
24Ethan Boyle Defender 7'
28Will Seymore Midfielder
45Babatunde Owolabi 17 Forward
32Luke McNicholas Goalkeeper
6Ryan Connolly 11 Midfielder
8Johnny Dunleavy Defender
9Sean Boyd 19 Forward
17Mark Russell 45 Defender
20Conor Barry Midfielder
22Ryan Rainey Midfielder
23Joel Bradley-Walsh Defender
26Tony McNamee Midfielder
  • Full Time: Shamrock Rovers 1 - 1 Finn Harps

  • 90'

    Sean Boyd meets a Webster cross. His header is dangerous but loops just over.

  • 90'

    Great work from Karl O'Sullivan to win a throw in for Harps up the pitch.

  • 90'

    There's chaos in the box after a corner, and Lee Grace gets a shot away, but it's cleared off the line!

  • 90'

    Six added on minutes.

  • 90'

    Graham Burke powers a strike towards goal, but it's inaccurate.

  • 90'

    Heading into 'Bradley time' now.

  • 88'

    Excellent saves from Mark McGinley to deny two Rovers shots in a scramble after a corner.

  • 87'

    Graham Burke drives into the box and takes a shot, but it's deflected wide.

  • 85'

    Dean Williams is on for the Hoops.

  • 85'

    Gary O'Neill is off for Rovers.

  • 85'

    Gannon is booked for simulation after going down in a heap in the box.

  • 80'

    Ryan Connolly is on for Harps.

  • 80'

    Barry McNamee is off for Harps.

  • 80'

    Boyd and Russell are on for Harps.

  • 80'

    Owolabi and Foley are off for Harps.

  • 77'

    The referee won't have missed this, as the Home fans shout 'you don't know what you're doing!'

  • 73'

    A great period of patient play from Rovers comes out to O'Neill on the edge of the area. The shot deflects wildly, and has the 'keeper scrambling before it spins wide.

  • 69'

    Tunde Owolabi carries the ball, beats Scales with a touch and shoots. The shot is scuffed wide to the left.

  • 68'

    Adam Foley skips away from a couple of challenges and lets a weak left-footed shot go. It goes harmlessly wide.

  • 64'

    Graham Burke tries to catch out the 'keeper with a shot from a free-kick out wide. McGinley have to be sharp to get down and prevent a goal.

  • 63'

    Dave Webster picks up a yellow after protesting a foul.

  • 61'

    Max Murphy is off for Shamrock Rovers.

  • 61'

    Graham Burke comes on for Shamrock Rovers.

  • 58'

    Rory Gaffney sees a shot deflected over after Rovers attempt to instantly reply. Harps have been working very hard this half.

  • 56'

    Goal Harps! Adam Foley scores after McNamee played him through on goal. The finish was from a tight angle. Mannus will be disappointed with that.

  • 52'

    Sean Gannon with some quick footwork to escape the attention of two Harps players. He then fires a cross across goal, but McEleny heads away.

  • 47'

    Max Murphy gets a yellow card.

  • 47'

    Harps seem to have changed up their formation. Will the tactical switch from Ollie Horgan make the difference?

  • 46'

    And we're back underway! Harps get the second-half started.

  • A great half from Rovers in front of their own fans. Some really good build-up play, a fortunate goal, but Harps have been poor. Ollie Horgan needs to change things around if he wants to get anything from this game.

  • Half-Time: Shamrock Rovers 1-0 Finn Harps

  • 44'

    Greene flicks the ball on for Mandroiu, he drags a shot wide, but it's more fantastic build up play from the Hoops.

  • 42'

    Mark Coyle fouls Mandroiu and picks up a yellow card.

  • 39'

    Will Seymore has a go from 25 yards out. The strike is powerful, but Mannus gets across well to parry and collect the ball.

  • 37'

    Rory Gaffney takes the ball in brilliantly and scoops it into the path of Aaron Greene. The pacey forward sprints in behind but Sadiki gets across to whip the ball away.

  • 35'

    Foley and Owolabi just aren't impacting the game. Foley is playing out on the left, and has been completely ineffective so far.

  • 31'

    Stephen Bradley's men are playing some nice stuff. Gaffney, Murphy and Greene are linking up particularly well.

  • 28'

    Sean Hoare picks up a yellow card for handball.

  • 25'

    Dave Webster caught his studs in the turf and appears to have picked up a knee injury. Looks a nasty one.

  • 23'

    Gaffney fires a low cross into the area, it sits nicely for Max Murphy, but defenders throwing themselves at the ball prevent a shot hitting the target.

  • 22'

    Owolabi gives the ball away and the Hoops break. Gaffney takes a pop from the left side of the box, but Sadiki blocks the strike wide.

  • 21'

    Harps are struggling to influence the game, Rovers look comfortable. Whenever the visitors get the ball, there's a lot of passing without a great deal of progression up the pitch.

  • 17'

    Ethan Boyle is doing his best to get a second yellow. He's not pulling his challenges, and is making a red look a certainty.

  • 14'

    Danny Mandroiu has a shot from a free-kick in a good position. He aims for the far post, but sees his shot go just wide.

  • 12'

    Aaron Greene is the man of the moment, he's terrorising the Harps defence.

  • 9'

    Goal Shamrock Rovers! Awful from Sadiki, Gaffney robs him and plays it to Greene who had an empty net to aim at!

  • 8'

    Greene has a shot deflected just over!

  • 7'

    Yellow for Ethan Boyle.

  • 6'

    Nearly self destruction from from Harps as Sadiki deflects a clearance just wide of his own goal. What a mess.

  • 5'

    Nervy moment for the Hoops as Boyle meets a well worked short corner. The assistant has his flag up though.

  • 4'

    Aaron Greene is in behind the defence, but the assistant flags for offside.

  • 2'

    Good to hear the thousand Rovers fans in fine voice early on.

  • 1'

    And we're off Danny Mandroiu kicks off.

  • This match marks an exciting time for the League of Ireland, there are 1,000 fans in attendance for this evening's game. A slight return to normality for football fans.

  • Finn Harps team news: there are no changes to the team that lost last time out. Scorer Tunde Owolabi starts up front along side Adam Foley.

  • Shamrock Rovers team news: Stephen Bradley makes two changes to the team that won before the break. Murphy and McCann come in for Lopes and Burke.

  • Hello and welcome to Final Whistle's coverage of Shamrock Rovers vs Finn Harps. I'm Jon Parkin, and I will be covering this evening's game.

Past Meetings

6 - 2
eLOI

Shamrock Rovers v Finn Harps

(Series 8)
0 - 2
LOI Men's Premier Division
Finn Park

Finn Harps v Shamrock Rovers

(Quarter Final)
2 - 3
FAI Cup
Finn Park

Finn Harps v Shamrock Rovers

(Series 15)
0 - 2
LOI Men's Premier Division
Finn Park

Finn Harps v Shamrock Rovers

(Series 6)
3 - 1
LOI Men's Premier Division
Tallaght Stadium

Shamrock Rovers v Finn Harps

1 - 0
LOI Men's Premier Division
Tallaght Stadium

Shamrock Rovers FC v Finn Harps FC

0 - 3
LOI Men's Premier Division
Finn Park

Finn Harps FC v Shamrock Rovers FC

0 - 1
LOI Men's Premier Division
Finn Park

Finn Harps FC v Shamrock Rovers FC

3 - 0
LOI Men's Premier Division
Tallaght Stadium

Shamrock Rovers FC v Finn Harps FC

4 - 1
LOI Men's Premier Division
Tallaght Stadium

Shamrock Rovers FC v Finn Harps FC

0 - 1
LOI Men's Premier Division
Finn Park

Finn Harps FC v Shamrock Rovers FC

3 - 2
LOI Men's Premier Division
Tallaght Stadium

Shamrock Rovers FC v Finn Harps FC

2
LOI Men's Premier Division
Finn Park

Finn Harps FC v Shamrock Rovers FC

1 - 1
LOI Men's Premier Division
Tallaght Stadium

Shamrock Rovers FC v Finn Harps FC

1
LOI Men's Premier Division
Finn Park

Finn Harps FC v Shamrock Rovers FC

Ground

Tallaght Stadium
Tallaght Stadium, Whitestown Way, Tallaght, Dublin 24, D24 XC9W

A master's journalism student at Birmingham City University. Jon Parkin has done interviews with numerous people from across the English football pyramid. He has also written for website My Old Man Said for over a year and a half.