Finn Harps pick up another clean sheet as they draw with league leaders Cork City

Finn Harps played out a scoreless draw against top of the table Cork City in the League of Ireland First Division in Finn Park on Friday night.

Against the unbeaten league leaders, the Harps put in a brilliant shift and limited their opponents to very few big chances, with Ruairi Keating having a one-on-one well saved by Lorenzo Piaia.

The Finn Harps defence stayed structured and had attacking chances through Conor Tourish, and Cork did pile on the pressure late on, but the game ended in a fair scoreless draw as the Harps picked up their second clean sheet of the season and two in six days.

Kevin McHugh made one change from the 1-0 victory away to Longford Town, as Josh Cullen, returning from Republic of Ireland Under-19 International duty, came in for Adam McDaid.

And it was a tame start to the game, but the visitors had the first chance on eleven minutes as Sean Maguire played a neat pass through the midfield for Darragh Crowley, with Lorenzo Piaia parrying his low effort from range away.

Former Harps man Hans Mpongo showed his threat on the break after a Harps free, but his low cross couldn’t find a white jersey, while the hosts had a similar chance on the break, but Nathan Lumingo tried to go on his own when Temiloluwa Ajibola was in the centre in a two-on-one.

Cork had a couple of dangerous chances after this with another former Harps man in Ruairi Keating, first playing a 1-2 with Greg Bolger, but Bolger’s effort was blocked, while Bolger turned provider for Keating, who was in one-on-one, but Piaia made a brilliant save.

Keating had another wide as Maguire headed over, while Tony McNamee tried to chip Conor Brann from the halfway line, but he couldn’t get the height or the accuracy on his effort.

Joshua Fitzpatrick threatened next, cutting in from the right and looking for the near top corner, but Piaia denied him, while Idir Zerrouk had an effort from range easily held by Brann as the sides went in scoreless at the break.

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The second half had a better start, with both teams going very close in the first five minutes. The visitors threatened twice as Mpongo’s cross came to Crowley at the edge of the box and his effort looked goalwards, but Joel Bradley-Walsh deflected it wide.

From the corner, a second cross from Bolger saw Keating flick on, but Mpongo couldn’t get a touch ahead of the Harps' defence.

The hosts had their best chance of the game swiftly after, as Bradley-Walsh’s free was whipped in towards Conor Tourish, but the defender just got under it from eight yards out as he headed over.

Conor Drinan tried his luck from distance as Piaia punched clear, while Fiacre Kelleher blazed an effort over from way out.

Another free from Bradley-Walsh threatened again, this time Rory Feely had to head clear as the effort looked to be going goalwards, as we entered the final quarter of an hour.

And the Harps began to drop deeper as Cork put on the pressure, twice Fitzpatrick cut in from the right, but his left-footed effort was saved by Piaia the first time, and two minutes later he did the same but fired wide.

The Harps then had a chance as Odhran McHugh won a corner, with Cork heading a dangerous Bradley-Walsh corner away, while Gavin McAteer’s shot was blocked.

And into seven minutes of added time, Cork had a number of chances, Maguire heading straight at Piaia, before AJ Bridge had an effort outside the box saved.

Bridge then had a dubious corner come in, but Rory Feely blasted over.

Cork fired a couple of crosses into the box late on, but the game ended in a draw.

Finn Harps: Lorenzo Piaia; Conor Tourish, Daniel De Lacerda, Joel Bradley Walsh; Josh Cullen, Oran Brogan, Tony McNamee, Alex Fanle; Nathan Lumingo (Gavin McAteer 66), Idir Zerrouk (Max Johnston 94); Temiloluwa Ajibola (Odhran McHugh 76).

Cork City: Conor Brann; Fiacre Kelleher, Charlie Lyons (AJ Bridge 74), Rory Feely; Joshua Fitzpatrick, Greg Bolger (Cillian Murphy 55), Conor Drinan, Darragh Crowley; Ruairi Keating, Hans Mpongo (Matthew Murray 62), Sean Maguire.

Referee: Declan Toland.