SHELBOURNE 0
FINN HARPS 0
Shelbourne and Finn Harps played out a scoreless draw at Tolka Park on Friday night.
It was a chance for Shels to leapfrog the visitors, but neither side could break the deadlock. Chances were few and far between in the first half. David O’Sullivan headed wide in the fourth minute, after being set up by Lorcan Fitzgerald.
Derek Prendergast attempted to get on the end of a Fitzgerald corner just after the half-hour mark, but it was just too far ahead of him. James English tried to set up Mark Hughes on the stroke of half-time, but Ciaran Gallagher did well to get out and punch clear.
Ciaran O’Connor forced Dean Delaney into a save, but that was the visitor’s best chance of the opening forty-five. The second-half wasn’t even twenty seconds old when Adam Evans nearly broke the deadlock.
His effort from just inside the box went into the side netting. A well-worked free-kick in the sixty-third minute had Harps under the cosh. Lorcan Fitzgerald worked it short to David O’Sullivan, who hit a low ball across the goal, but the visitors managed to clear the danger. At the other end, Dave Mulcahy put in a great challenge to deny Michael O’Connor as the game entered its final fifteen minutes.
The Harps striker had done well to work some space for himself, but Mulcahy was ruthless once O’Connor took a heavy touch. Owen Heary’s side had two massive chances in the final ten minutes.
English got on the end of a cross from the left, and you could hear the collective intake of breath as Shels fans prepared to celebrate. But he didn’t get over the ball, and the header was well wide.
English then turned provider shortly afterwards, as he set-up David O’Sullivan. The striker’s effort from five yards deflected over the crossbar off a Harps boot. Michael O’Connor had the final chance of the night, but he blasted over from eight yards, as both sides took a point away.
Report with thanks to Peter Brannigan and sseairtricityleague.ie
Shelbourne: Dean Delany, James Brown, Lorcan Fitzgerald, Dave Mulcahy, Derek Prendergast, Alan Byrne, Cian Kavanagh (Dayle Rooney 72′), Mark Hughes, Adam Evans, James English, David O’Sullivan
Subs not used: Reece McEnteer, James O’Brien, Gavin Boyne, Jamie Doyle, Shane Farrell, Lee Steacy
Finn Harps: Ciaran Gallagher, Lee Toland, Jesse Devers (Mark Hannon 90+1′), Keith Cowan (Niall McGinley 30′), Tommy McBride, Ciaran O’Connor, Paddy McCourt, Mark Coyle, John O’Flynn (BJ Banda 58′), Sam Todd, Michael O’Connor
Subs not used: Mark Timlin, Gareth Doherty, Ryan Flynn, Peter Burke.
