Longford Town 1-2 Finn Harps U19s
Jamie Browne.
Two Jamie Browne goals on Sunday afternoon has put the Finn Harps U19s top of the National League table in an excellent away win over Longford Town. It completed a very positive weekend for the clubs underage squads as Joe Boyle’s boys overcame a stubborn home side on the pitch beside City Calling stadium on Sunday.
A bumpy surface and windy conditions were not ideal for Harps normal passing game but despite surrendering a first half lead, Boyle’s charges displayed the right mentality to bring home all three points. Harps were on the front foot from the start and created several chances before taking the lead with Zak Gorman, Michael Gallagher and James Carolan all coming close.
Carolan was to play a part in Harps opener when he combined with Castlefinn native Corrie Lee-Bogan to set up Jamie Browne, who finished with confidence.
Longford however continued to battle hard and in the second half they took advantage of slack defending to equalise following a set piece.
As the match approached closing stages it looked like the Donegal side were going to rue several missed chances but with six minutes to go they engineered a well worked goal to secure the win. A short corner from Stephen Doherty was passed to Ryan Finn who executed the perfect cross for Browne who gave the home keeper no chance with a bullet header.
Browne’s brace was to prove decisive as Harps u19 headed home from the Midlands satisfied that their unbeaten start to the season was extended to three wins and one draw.
Ryan Finn of Finn Harps. Photo by Oliver McVeigh/Sportsfile
Next up for Joe Boyle’s men is another away fixture when they travel to Dublin to take on Shelbourne FC’s U19s.
Finn Harps U19s – Jamie Bell, Michael Gallagher, Pat Loughrey, Keelan McGill, Keenan Diver, Ryan Finn, Stephen Doherty, Corrie Lee Bogan, James Carolan, Jamie Browne, Zak Gorman, subs Karl McGinley, Daniel Stolarwcyzk, Darragh Ellison, Charlie White, Joe Boyle,
It was a good weekend for the Finn Harps U15 and U17 sides who both continued their unbeaten starts to their respective national league campaigns. Declan Boyle’s U17 team had a 4-1 win over Longford Town at the Curragh with Corey McBride on the mark twice while Charlie White and Jamie Doherty were the other scorers for the hosts.
Corey McBride, Charlie White and Jamie Doherty.
Meanwhile Kevin McHugh’s U15s secured an excellent 1-1 away draw in Dublin against St. Patrick’s Athletic with Daniel Gildea getting the goal for the visitors.
Finn Harps earned a hard fought point against fellow table toppers St Pat’s at a sun drenched Kilbarrack astro on Saturday afternoon. The opening few minutes of the match signaled what the game was going to be like with both sides showing measurable quality therefore neither side were willing to give up chances. Both Jamie McDaid and Joel Gorman had the best of half chances for Harps in early stages of the game.
It took until the half hour mark before either side was fully opened up and it was Harps that took the lead. A long clearance from keeper Patrick McGarvey was flicked on by McDaid allowing Daniel Gildea to race away down the left. The winger was quicker than the St Pat’s full back to the ball before delicately lobbing the stranded goalkeeper from the edge of the area.
St Pat’s looked for an instant reply as Cian Kavanagh powered his way to the byline though his cutback was dealt with by a combination of McGarvey and Conor McDaid. St Pat’s started the second half in search of an equaliser and were given the perfect opportunity eight minutes in when they were awarded a penalty. Cian Kavanagh stepped up to the mark but was denied by a fabulous save from McGarvey.
The hosts didn’t have to wait long however to level proceedings as a long throw from the right was steered to Ben McCormick at the back post who managed to bundle the ball into net. In the final stages both sides had chances to take all three points, firstly Oran McGrath rose highest from a corner for Harps to direct a header agonisingly over the crossbar, while at the opposite end Kenny Lee was thwarted by superb save by McGarvey.
The result sees Harps remain unbeaten on 10 points as they host Dundalk next weekend.
Finn Harps: Patrick McGarvey, Finnian Coyle,Odhran McGrath, Connor McDaid, Corey Brolly, Caomhan Wheeler, Joe Gorman, Daniel Gildea, Daryl Porter, Drew McKinney,Jamie McDaid subs Connor Campbell, Rory Pyper,Adam Murphy, Blake McGarvey, Eoin McGettigan, Jack Dwyer, Liam McGranaghan
McBride double for Harps 17s
Finn Harps U17s 4-1 Longford Town
Following their dramatic 5-4 victory over neighbours Sligo Rovers the previous week, Declan Boyle’s Harps U17 side were hoping for a more comfortable three points when they hosted Longford Town U17 at a sun-kissed New Camp Ground in the Curragh on Saturday. Coming into the match, Boyle’s charges were hoping to add to their four points from two games to date and while the Midlanders did offer stubborn resistance in the first half Harps eventually came out comfortable winners.
With just four minutes on the clock, centre back Charlie White, one of several graduates from last year’s U15 squad, opened the scoring when he drove home following a cross by Inishowen man Corey McBride, who was a constant threat from the right wing.
It was McBride who doubled the side’s lead on 24 minutes with a perfectly executed free kick from outside the box and it looked as if it could be a straightforward afternoon for the Donegal side who were making light of the warm conditions.
However Longford, to their credit, maintained their shape and work ethic and were rewarded shortly before half-time when defender David Dalton poked home following indecision in the home defence and the visitors were back in the match.
Harps came out after the break with a noticeably more determined mindset with Gallagher and Doherty controlling midfield. On 55 minutes the hosts extended their lead by two goals again. Full back Lee McLaughlin exchanged passes with Conor Black before delivering a dangerous ball into the advancing Jamie Doherty who finished with aplomb from inside the box.
McBride again took centre stage again on 59 minutes when he stepped up to curl another free from outside the box just inside the post and beyond the reach of the Longford keeper to put Harps 4-1 ahead.
The Finnsiders continued to create chances including a disallowed goal from Stephen Black on 75 minutes and two efforts from Ronan Gallagher both of which cleared the visitor’s crossbar.
While further efforts from replacements Dylan Woods and Luke Rudden didn’t add to the scoreline Harps finished the game with room to spare and now look forward to next Saturdays match against the Shelbourne FC U17s.
Declan Boyle and staff were also pleased to welcome back winger Jack O’Donnell who returned to action for the first time following a difficult recovery from a long-term injury.
Finn Harps U17s: Adrian McLaughlin, Lee McLaughlin, Darragh Ellison, Stephen Black, Charlie White, Jack Doherty, Cory McBride, Jamie Doherty, Conor Black, Ronan Gallagher, Gabriel Aluka. Subs: Eoin McGing, Keelan Collier, Luke Rudden, Dylan Woods, Jack O’Donnell, Adam McCaffery.
