Harps get second chance

Finn Harps will be glad to have earned a second bite at the cherry against non-league Belgrove following a far from impressive…

Finn Harps will be glad to have earned a second bite at the cherry against non-league Belgrove following a far from impressive display at frosty Finn Park on Saturday night.

Harps were more than matched by Tony Macken's Belgrove who will feel they could even have won the game. The visitors certainly had the best two chances, but on both occasions their finishing let them down.

Joe Farrell had the first clear cut opportunity in the 16th minute after a mistake by Paddy McGrenaghan allowed him a clear run on goal. His shot was well saved by Brian McKenna and Harps were let off the hook.

The closest Harps came to a goal followed a Jonathan Minnock free-kick in the 41st minute. First Dave Fleming saved at full stretch from Minnock's shot, and when Mulligan retrieved the rebound to cross to Gavin Dykes, the goalkeeper was back on his feet to save again.

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The second half saw Harps try in vain to break the visitors down, while at the same time leaving themselves open to counterattacks. One such attack should have earned Belgrove a goal in the 71st minute. Stephen Dixon was left with the task of tapping home from close range but blazed over the bar.

Finn Harps: McKenna, Vaudequin, Minnock, Boyle, Dykes, McGrenaghan (Kelly 65), Mohan, Harkin, Speak, Mulligan (McHugh 78), Kavanagh.

Belgrove: Fleming, D Carpenter, Daly, Cleary, Moore, Caswell, A Carpenter (G Dixon 65), Cray, Ring, S Sixon, Farrell (Larkin (57).

Referee: P Whelan (Dublin).