Finn Harps held to a draw away to Kerry FC

Finn Harps’ play-off ambitions were dealt a massive blow as they drew 1-1 with Kerry FC at Mounthawk Park in the SSE Airtricity League First Division.

Darren Murphy’s men hit the front on 70 minutes when Patrick Ferry fired the ball low past former Finn Harps goalkeeper Antonio Tuta into the corner of the net. However, the advantage was short-lived as 10 minutes later Sean McGrath levelled things up when he tapped home from close range to earn his side a share of the spoils.

The Ballybofey men began the brighter of the two sides with a couple of chances falling to Success Edogun early on.

The first opportunity arrived on 10 minutes when Edogun cut inside from the right before seeing his curling effort go just over the bar. The Finn Harps striker was involved again just moments later. Edogun beat the on-rushing Antonio Tuta to the ball but the former Finn Harps ‘keeper redeemed himself by saving superbly with his feet before Edogun fired the follow-up wide.

On 20 minutes, the Finn Park residents again came close to hitting the front. Following a corner from Tony McNamee, the ball broke to Sean Patton at the edge of the box but the on loan Derry City striker struck his effort just wide of the post.

The hosts grew into the contest from here and the concluding concrete chance of the opening stanza fell in their favour.

A corner-kick was whipped dangerously into the Finn Harps box and was met by the head of Ethan Kos but he was unable to keep his attempt down as the ball went over the bar to leave nothing between the sides at the break.

The Kerry men began the second stanza well and had a glorious opportunity to enter the lead on 55 minutes. Some great work from Kennedy Amechi down the right wing concluded with the Kerry FC forward fizzing a threatening ball across the face of the goal but no one in a green jersey was on hand to direct the ball home.

The best chance of the game to date arrived for the Mounthawk Park residents on the hour mark. A cracking Cian Brosnan corner was met by Oran Crowe’s head but he was denied by a goal-line clearance from Sean Patton to keep his side on level terms.

On 70 minutes, Darren Murphy’s men hit the front against the run of play. Patrick Ferry ran onto a well-weighted through ball from Sean Patton before burying the ball into the bottom corner from the edge of the box to give his side the lead.

However, just 10 minutes later the home side drew level. Nathan Gleeson did well to control the ball before driving forward and shooting at goal. He was denied by Oisin Cooney but the ball was parried into the direction of Sean McGrath who was on hand to tap home.

The two outfits went in pursuit of an all-important winner and a glorious chance fell to Conor McCarthy’s outfit in stoppage time.

Goalscorer Sean McGrath played the ball into the path of Oran Crowe who let fly from the edge of the penalty area but Oisin Cooney saved well to deny the Kerry FC midfielder and leave the two outfits having to settle for a share of the spoils.

Finn Harps: Oisin Cooney; Jamie Watson, Matty Mackinson, Noe Baba,Kevin Jordan (Luke O’Brien, 73); Max Hutchinson (Gavin McAteer, 73), David Cawley, Tony McNamee; Patrick Ferry, Success Edogun, Sean Patton (Gavin Gilmore, 87).

Kerry FC: Antonio Tuta; Finn Barrett, Andrew Spain, Ethan Kos, Sean O’Connell; Nathan Gleeson, Oran Crowe, Ronan Teahan; Sean McGrath, Kennedy Amechi (Andy Kearns, 87), Cian Brosnan (Valeriy Dolya, 61).