Shaunie Bradley nets first Finn Harps goal to rescue draw with Kerry

Shaunie Bradley’s first Finn Harps goal rescued a point in a low-key Monday night encounter at Finn Park.

Luke Palmer’s penalty in the 43rd minute gave Kerry FC the lead, but Harps drew level in the 72nd minute. The stalemate means Harps are set to end the season in eighth place in the First Division with a home game on UCD to conclude the campaign.

Cousins combined for the levelling goal as Bradley converted at the back post, getting on the end of a dangerous free-kick swung in by Joel Bradley Walsh.

Bradley, a son of former Harps defender Shane Bradley, has recently returned after a long spell out injured and this was the18-year-old’s first senior goal.

Harps had a big chance in the 41st minute, but Bradley Walsh, who was presented with a chance through an excellent Adam McDaid cross, could only place his header into the arms of visiting ‘keeper Darragh Foley.

Three minutes later, disaster struck for the hosts when McDaid was deemed to have fouled Oran Crowe and referee Darragh White awarded a penalty. At the River End, Palmer kept his cool to find the bottom corner of Lorenzo Piaia’s goal to give Kerry the lead.

Until that, the night had been rather uneventful in front of a small crowd, officially numbered at 615.

Kerry manager Colin Healy shuffled his pack considerably for the long trip to Ballybofey with five switches to a side that lost 2-0 against Wexford on Friday.

When Finn Barrett clattered into McDaid on 26 minutes, Harps cried foul, but ref’ White kept his cards pocketed - a decision that led to some irate exchanges between the home dugout and fourth official Mark Houlihan.

On the half-hour, Hutchison blocked from a Car Mukaguzi shot after Piaia’s kickout was intercepted while Crowe curled a free kick over the crossbar moments later.

Harps showed three changes from the 3-0 loss at Dundalk on Friday night. Max Hutchison, Aaron McLaughlin and Adam McDaid came into the XI with Gavin Gilmore and Gradi Lomboto dropping to the bench. McHugh was without the suspended Conor Tourish.

Harps hopes evaporated in the space of a couple of short weeks and they entered this one on the back of five successive defeats - including an FAI Cup quarter-final defeat to Cork City in September - and a sequence that saw the Donegal side concede 16 goals.

With their Cup dream dashed, Harps’ play-off ambitions also went up in a puff of smoke soon after.

Kerry managed one better in the FAI Cup, going to the semi-finals, where they suffered a 6-1 defeat at Shamrock Rovers, and they nearly made Harps pay here again midway through the second half.

After Barrett saw a shot deflect wide off Bradley Walsh, Samuel Aladesanusi stole in to meet a Ronan Teahan cross, but his header flew just over the top.

Bradley pulled Harps level and there were big appeals for a penalty when Idir Zerrouk went to ground 14 minutes from the end under what seemed an over-zealous challenge.

Harps attacker Aaron McLaughlin, who has been beset by a plethora of injury woes, was helped off here with what looks to be his latest set back in the 75th minute. 

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Finn Harps: Lorenzo Piaia; Mikey Place (Darragh Coyle half-time), Max Hutchison, Joel Bradley-Walsh, Idir Zerrouk; Oran Brogan, Adam McDaid; Aaron McLaughlin (Daniel Cunningham 75), Tony McNamee, Ibhrahima Bangoura (Shaunie Bradley 66); Hans Mpongo (Gradi Lomboto half-time).

Kerry FC: Darragh Foley; Finn Barrett, Samuel Aladesanusi, Niall Brookwell, Ewan Lee (Luke Doolan 88), Sean O’Connell; Ryan Perez (Cian Brosnan 58), Oran Crowe, Carl Mukaguzi, Ronan Teahan; Luke Palmer (Daniel Okwute 67).

Referee: Darragh White.