Horgan on draw with Shels: 'Maybe it was a good point? Only time will tell '

Ollie Horgan said it will only be later in the season when he will learn how useful the point picked up in the 1-1 draw against Shelbourne was.

After a tepid opening half, Conor Tourish put Harps in front on 52 minutes, only for Stephan Negru to level matters just five minutes later. Both sides had chances afterwards, with James McKeown in the Harps goal denying Sean Boyd at the bitter end, not long after Brendan Clarke in the visitors’ goal had made a terrific stop to palm away a Robert Jones header that was destined for the top corner.

“We didn’t deserve to win it,” Horgan said. “We put ourselves into a position at 1-0 up slightly against the run of play and we didn’t defend a set-piece. We scored one from a set-piece when Conor scored and it may have come off Conor for their goal as well. We didn’t create anything in the first half. 

Harps move off the bottom but have to be content with point against Shelbourne

A share of the spoils was a fair result in the end, although with only five matches left to play perhaps the Ballybofey side will regret giving away the lead so soon after creating it

“The second half we were better, we had more of the ball and it was more open and we went to try and win it, but in the end we could’ve lost it. In that second half we got up the pitch much more and on the run you’re on, maybe it’s a good point?

“You’ll take the point and move on. Maybe it was a good point. Only time will tell at the end of the year.

“Shels had most of the ball but they didn’t have a huge amount of chances. They had a great chance at the end, as Matty Smith caused us a lot of bother in the pocket. We also had a good chance when Brendan Clarke made a great save, tipping it over the bar. “

Harps lost Eric McWoods inside of the opening quarter hour with a recurrence of a hamstring picked up against Shamrock Rovers earlier in the season, while goalscorer Tourish was forced off late on having also only returned from a lay-off.

“It’s his hamstring which we pulled earlier on in the year and we just hope it’s not as serious this time,” Horgan said in relation to McWoods. “He’ll be a loss. Someone else will have to step up to the mark. Conor Tourish has had to come off again and we’ve a couple of players out injured as it is, so it’s backs to the wall stuff.”

Harps on Friday make the short trip into the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium to take on a Derry City side who still have title aspirations, following their 1-0 win at St Patrick’s Athletic.

“Derry have won their last eight games and conceded very little,” Horgan added. “They’re in great form, although at least we’re going in there with a point more than we had a seven this evening. The games have been closer in the last 10 years. 

“We’ve been turned over a few times quite heavily in the Brandywell though and you can only hope that bit of rivalry will bridge the gap because they’re flying. They’re powerful.”