Finn Harps 0-0 Bohemians
BOHEMIANS’ ANTO MURPHY saw Finn Harps goalkeeper Ciaran Gallagher save his 95th minute penalty as a drab encounter had an exciting finish in Ballybofey.
It means that the Dubliners have now gone 380 minutes without a goal in the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division.
In the third of three minutes of injury time, Ollie Horgan’s Harps had one last chance to throw the dice it seemed.
They has a healthy number of men about to attack the ball in Dean Delany’s penalty area as the crowd held its breath with a free-kick to come from just right of centre of edge of the area.
But in keeping with the tone of the evening, Ryan Curran’s fluffed the kick, straight into the red and black striped wall.
Then, the visitors broke at lightning pace, working the play down their right. From a square ball in by Curtis Byrne, Roberto Lopes ran across the blind-sided Ciaran Coll, who had an outstretched leg, and match referee Dave McKeown instantly pointed to the spot.
The penalty was taken by Anto Murphy, who tried to shimmy in his run-up but Ciaran Gallagher went to his right to save to the delight of those huddled behind the goal.
Beforehand, the only clear-cut chance came on 17 minutes, when Paddy Kavanagh — probably as surprised as anyone — broke through the Harps defence on the right.
Kavanagh streaked away and Gallagher charged from his goal, but it was the Bohemians winger who got the touch. It wasn’t strong enough, though, and as it trundled towards goal — albeit just off target — Keith Cowan got back to tidy up.
Delaney in the Bohemians goal had only three routine saves to make over the course of the game, all of which came in the second half. He gathered easily from Harps substitutes Michael Funston and Kevin McHugh, as well as stopping a header from Packie Mailey in the closing stages.
Finn Harps: Ciaran Gallagher; Damien McNulty, Keith Cowan, Packie Mailey, Ciaran Coll; Adam Hanlon (Kevin McHugh 71), Barry Molloy, Sean Houston, Gareth Harkin (Michael Funston 37), Tony McNamee (Dave Scully 84); Ryan Curran.
Bohemians: Dean Delany; Derek Pender, Roberto Lopes, Derek Prendergast, Lorcan Fitzgerald; Paddy Kavanagh, Daniel Byrne, Keith Buckley (Anto Murphy 76), Dave Mulcahy, Ayman-Ben Mohamed (Jake Kelly half-time); Mark Quigley (Kurtis Byrne 76).
Refereee: Dave McKeon (Dublin).
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