Finn Harps 0-2 Wexford Youths FC

By Brian de Salvo

If, in the words of the old music hall song, “It’s a long way to Tipperary,” well, it’s even further to Ballybofey. But at least it rhymes – and Wexford Youths supporters will have sung all the long way home.

This was a fine Youths performance, full of commitment and well focused, with the odd inspirational moment thrown in. Sadly, manager Mick Wallace, absent in Italy, was not there to witness it.  I commend the video to him.

Donegal was also a bridge too far, for one reason or another, for several first team regulars. Their absence need not concern us; those that travelled did themselves and the club proud.

Harps resurrection under new manager James Gallagher had taken them six League games without defeat.  If that record seemed an unlikely pedigree based on this evening’s showing, you have to credit a Wexford Youths side that came with a plan, achieved it, and never allowed the home team to settle.

As if aware of the punishment it was to suffer, the original match ball succumbed after less than two minutes and was swiftly substituted.  Its replacement was soon under pressure.  Breen came up for a header that young Harps keeper Ciaran Gallagher plucked from over his head. There was still only three minutes on the clock when Conor Sinnott made determined progress down the left despite the efforts of two defenders. His pull back gave Shane Dempsey the chance to hit a volley from the edge of the area which Gallagher, at full stretch, could only parry. Gavin Doyle seized on the loose ball and sent over a cross for Gary Sheahan at the far post and only desperate defending from Ciaran Coll prevented the coup de grace.

Youths appeared to be playing 4-3-3 but Jimmy Keohane was so mobile on the left if was hard to tell exactly what his role was.  This is a player of immense potential, not least in his maturity for one so young. He missed a sitter in the opening minutes, heading wide from the edge of the six yard box when completely unmarked, and another twenty minutes later when Gary Sheahan’s pace on the right provided an unexpected opportunity only for young Keohane to miskick in front of goal. Such howlers might well have decimated the confidence of any inexperienced player but they took not a feather out of Keohane whose non stop contribution continued to catch the eye and was ultimately rewarded with a goal.

With Conor Sinnott and the tireless deadly duo of Shane Dempsey and the fearless Patsy Malone occupying the midfield engine room, Youths were short of a presence on the right of midfield to match the efforts of the ubiquitous Keohane on the opposite flank. Here the youngster harassed his marker, the experienced Ian Rossiter to such an extent that the Harps defender fell over in confusion , conceding a corner.

But it was from the right corner flag that the opening goal was created, Sinnott’s pin pointed kick arriving precisely for Breen to head home after 38 minutes. Harps defence, post Mukendi, looks a little fragile. Sharkey, his replacement on loan from Derry, looks accomplished enough but there is a lack of presence and only the offside flag saved Harps from further embarrassment.

That came seven minutes after the interval with a great goal inspired by Conor Sinnott, one player who cannot be regarded as “not needed on voyage”.  His intelligent reading of the game saw the split second opportunity, his pace and determination retrieved the ball and took it down the touchline and his superb touch hit a precision deep cross fully thirty yards across goal at such pace and trajectory as to eliminate the goalkeeper and his defenders and provide Keohane with a difficult volley at the far post which the striker calmly directed back across goal into the far corner.

Harps were not willing partners in their own demise and Pa Doyle in the Wexford goal had already lived dangerously, spilling a couple of long range efforts and only retrieving them with brave dives at the feet of forwards following up. But Doyle could do nothing as Mark Moran’s fizzing cross from the right just evaded Paddy Bonner’s lunge right in front of goal.  Moran, who came on for Forker after just over an hour, provided a spirited injection into Finn Harps efforts to save the game.

But Wexford always had the edge.  An exquisitely judged chip from Sinnott sent Sheahan clear of his marker in the 79th minute and only a sharp save at his feet by Gallagher, who has matured from boy keeper to old pro in a matter of weeks, prevented a further score. Two minutes later Sheahan’s strike partner Gavin Doyle was liberated, took the ball round the keeper but too far wide on the left and could ultimately only hit the outside of the net.

 A visit to Finn Park is always a pleasure for the real football fan. You can tell from the sensible numbers on the back of Harps shirts that this is the real deal.  And, win or lose the warmth of the welcome from the locals is something to treasure.  They know their football these canny folk from Donegal. Tonight may not have been their night but there will be others. If it wasn’t such a long walk home I’d love to share them.

Finn Harps: Ciaran Gallagher; Ian Rossiter, Seamus Sharkey, Packie Mailey, Ciaran Coll (Oisin McMenamin 84); Patrick Bonner, Shaun McGowan, Mark Forker (Mark Moran 64), Gary Whoriskey (Stephen McLaughin h/t); Fintan Bonner, Marc Brolly.

Wexford Youths: Pa Doyle; Anto Russell, Paul Rossiter, David Breen, Gareth McCurtin; Conor Sinnott, Patsy Malone, Shane Dempsey; Gary Sheahan (Shane Sinnott 88), Gavin Doyle (Ritchie Fitzgerald 90+1), Jimmy Keohane (Muzzi Mullen 90+1).

Referee: Mr D. Hanney

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