Finn Harps 0 – 0 Longford Town
By Stuart Connolly at Finn Park
Finn Harps extended their run of clean sheets to four games on Friday night in a match that either side could have snatched all three points late on.
The first half ended scoreless, despite both Harps and Longford creating opportunities, only to be denied by the opposing goalkeeper.
Shaunie Bradley and Gavin Hodgins went closest for the home side, while Francis Campbell and Daniel Norris threatened for Longford.
The draw leaves Harps six points behind UCD, their next opponents.
Having had their registration ban lifted by FIFA, Finn Harps were eager to bolster their squad and registered three new players in quick succession. Kieran Cooney made his debut in the starting lineup against Longford Town, while fellow signings, Oran Brogan and Idir Zerrouk, started on the bench.
In the early stages of the game at Finn Park, played in rainy conditions, the hosts carved out some promising openings but failed to capitalize. Joel Bradley-Walsh saw his flicked effort blocked on the line after just four minutes, and Conor Tourish had a shot saved by Harry Halwax.
Beyond these opportunities, the two teams largely nullified each other, and it wasn’t until after the half-hour mark that another clear sight of goal presented itself. Michael Place and Bradley-Walsh stood over a free kick on the edge of the box. Place took the shot, but it deflected off the wall and narrowly missed the target.
Gavin McAteer’s late corner sailed into the grateful arms of Halwax, who stumbled over his line, but fortunately for him, the ball remained out of the net.
Finn Harps v Longford in the SSE Airtricity League First Division. North West Newspix
Finn Harps v Longford in the SSE Airtricity League First Division. North West Newspix
The second half mirrored the first, with clear-cut chances remaining elusive.
Just after the hour mark, Harps had the game’s best opportunity. Bradley-Walsh delivered a ball from the left, and Shaunie Bradley, with his first touch, headed narrowly over the bar from close range.
Shortly after, Longford Town registered their first meaningful shot on target, but Aaron Doran’s snapshot drifted wide.
With just over ten minutes remaining, Longford Town came agonizingly close to breaking the deadlock. On a counter-attack, Daniel Norris, unable to get a shot away himself, teed up Francis Campbell, whose low shot rolled just wide of the post, with Corey Sheridan beaten.
Harps increased the pressure in the game’s final stages, with Bradley and Gavin Hodgins both going close.
Longford Town also sought a late winner, and Norris saw a driven effort superbly blocked by Sheridan.
Finn Harps v Longford in the SSE Airtricity League First Division. North West Newspix
In the dying seconds of stoppage time, Longford threatened again and Campbell’s frustrated reaction highlighted how close his point-blank header came to finding the net.
Finn Harps: Corey Sheridan; Michael Place, Max Hutchison, Conor Tourish, Joel Bradley-Walsh, Kieran Cooney; Kevin Jordan (Shaunie Bradley 64), Gavin Gilmore (Gavin Hodgins 57), Gavin McAteer, Tony McNamee; Gradi Lomboto (Seaghan McCormick 88)
Longford Town: Harry Halwax; Eric Yoro (Stefan Ugbesia 76), Osaze Irhue, Andrew Spain, Oisin Hand; Luke Wade Slater (Dean George 76), Pharrell Manuel, Aaron Doran, Emre Topcu, Daniel Norris; Daragh Murtagh (Francis Campbell 76).
Referee: Daryl Carolan
Honours even as Finn Harps maintains clean sheets was last modified: July 4th, 2025 by
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