Finn Harps keep another clean sheet, but draw a blank against Longford Town

Finn Harps extended their unbeaten run to four games, but this scoreless draw with Longford Town will not live too long in the memory.

A contest that was as drab as the conditions never really sparked to life - although both sides had chances to win it in the closing stages. 

Teenage goalkeeper Corey Sheridan kept his fourth clean sheet in a row for Harps. The Ballyshannon man only made his first team debut a couple of weeks ago, but has really stepped up in recent weeks.

The 17-year-old will have more troublesome nights at the office, but stepped up with a moment’s heroics when racing from his goal to save superbly at the feet of Daniel Norris, who surged clear in the 87th minute. 

Sheridan might have been a spectator for the most part, but his heart will have been in the mouth when Francis Campbell almost sneaked Longford in front eleven minutes from time. With their first purposeful attempt on goal, Campbell rolled his low shot agonisingly past the far post and in added time the Longford sub header over from a good position.

On 83 minutes, Sheridan’s opposite number, Harry Halwax scrambled to safety from Shaunie Bradley’s close-range effort while Gavin Hodgins blasted narrowly wide from distance. 

Sheridan was called upon when Norris was played in, but the home ‘keeper produced a fine stop with Longford having several good openings towards the end of the night. 

Harps included St Kitts and Nevis international Kieran Cooney in the starting XI just hours after his signing form Notts County was announced. 

The Birmingham-born left back has been capped twice by the Caribbean island and he came in to take the place of Joel Thompson, who has departed for the rather less exotic surroundings of Ballymena United.

Mikey Place returned to the starting line-up with William Oduwa dropping to the bench.

Harps threatened early and an attempted cheeky back-flick by Joel Bradley-Walsh in the fourth minute needed a timely block from a Longford defender just when the home support in an attendance listed as 703 sensed as if they might land an early blow.

Two minutes later Halwax saved from a well-drilled Conor Tourish effort in the penalty area.

Longford boss Wayne Groves made three changes from the side that lost 2-0 at home to UCD last weekend with Oisin Hand, Andy Spain and Daragh Murtagh all elevated.

In a first-half absent of real action, save for Place being cut down by Pharrell Manuel on the half-hour, Place saw a free kick deflect wide of the target in the 36th minute with chances few and far between.

Just past the hour, cousins Bradley-Walsh and Bradley - just on as a sub - combined, but the latter’s header, following a free kick, took a ricochet off a Longford body on the way over.

Bradley was closer still as the game ticked towards its conclusion - where Sheridan ensured that Harps, now seventh in the standings, left with a share of the spoils. 

The hosts also handed a debut to Finn Valley teenager Seaghan McCormick late on.

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Finn Harps: Corey Sheridan; Max Hutchison, Conor Tourish, Joel Bradley Walsh; Mikey Place, Kevin Jordan (Shaunie Bradley 65), Gavin Gilmore (Gavin Hodgins 57), Gavin McAteer, Kieran Cooney; Tony McNamee, Gradi Lomboto (Seaghan McCormick 89)

Longford Town: Harry Halwax; Eric Yoro (Stefan Ugbesia 76), Oisin Hand, Andy Spain, Osage Irhue; Luke Wade Slater (Dean George 76), Aaron Doran, Pharrell Manuel, Emre Topcu, Daniel Norris; Daragh Murtragh (Francis Campbell 76).

Referee: Daryl Carolan.