Kilkenny City 2- 1 Finn Harps
Rodney Dullaghan Reports From Buckley Park, Kilkenny
Copyright © Donegal Democrat/People's Press

Finn Harps finally got their season under way in Buckley Park on Saturday night in disappointing fashion as they went down in a shock defeat to Kilkenny City.

With the legacy of the ‘Battle of the Brandywell’ still hanging over them, this was real below-par performance from the Donegalmen. Starting their first competitive fixture since the ill-fated playoff last season, Harps had to do without Jonathan Minnock, Shane Bradley and Kevin McHugh who were all suspended following the Derry game. Manager Noel King was also suspended for his antics and had to watch the game from outside the technical area.

King handed competitive debuts to James Gallagher, Charlie McCormack and Buncrana lad, Ross Connolly. Martin Ferry graduated from the under 21 team to partner Declan Boyle in the centre of defence.

Unfortunately the only thing that looked good about King’s new-look Harps side was the new white strip that they will wear this season for the 50th Anniversary. It was a bitterly poor result to get beaten by a team that had only managed five wins in the previous two league campaigns.

Harps started well and had a free-kick floated into the area in the first minute from the centre circle which was deflected wide for an early corner. Niall Bonner’s inswinger was eventually cleared, as the Kilkenny defence looked shaky early on.

On 10 minutes a long ball from Martin Ferry nearly let in Neil Lloyd but Cats’ keeper David O’Neill raced to the edge of the area to gather safely. Two minutes later, Connolly did well to force another corner and O’Neill fumbled but collected Bonner’s cross at the second attempt.

Kilkenny then went in front in the 14th minute when Charlie McCormack, playing left-back in place of Minnock, lost possession. As the Harps defence hesitated, Philip Gorman played a through ball for Barry Wood who cut in from the left and finished low and hard to the far corner of the net. It was a clinical finish from the Waterford native in Kilkenny’s first real attack.

Four minutes later Harps were level. Ross Connolly was fouled at the edge of the area and from the resultant free-kick Eloka Asokuh finished expertly. McGrenaghan touched the ball to Asokuh and the big Nigerian curled the ball around the wall for Harps first goal of the new campaign.

Another corner from Bonner caused a few moments of panic from the Kilkenny defence on 20 minutes and when partially cleared McGrenaghan shot just over after good work from McCormack.

Goal - Eloka Asokuh

Kilkenny then had two chances in quick succession when a bad back-pass from McCormack fell to Philip Gorman but he shot over from a good position. Two minutes later Barry Wood headed just wide from a cross from the impressive Alan Mulcahy.

Five minutes before half-time Harps could have caught Kilkenny on the break. Asokuh cleared and Connolly did well to flick on a header to Lloyd but O’Neill dealt easily with the Englishman’s shot from 20 yards.

The second half exploded into life after 4 minutes when the superb Barry Wood volleyed home from 25 yards after a poor clearance from the Harps defence. The goal would have not looked out of place in any ground in the world and this gave Kilkenny the belief and hunger to go on to win the game.

The game opened up after this but home-side were playing with more determination and confidence. Despite the best efforts of Tom Mohan, Harps struggled to deal with the balls coming from Brian Mallon in midfield and the pace of Mulcahy down the left. Mulcahy was nearly through on goal in the 60th minute only for a Nicky Carville tackle and just three minutes later James Gallagher had to save superbly from a Philip Gorman half volley. The striker’s sweetly struck shot from just over 20 yards was dipping into the net when Gallagher got a vital touch to tip to safety.

With ten minutes to go though, Harps should have been level. Substitute Sean Friars collected the ball on the left and ghosted past two players in the area before lifting the ball over the crossbar with the goal at his mercy. It was a glorious opportunity to get something from the game and the loan signing from Derry will have been kicking himself for the poor finish.

The same player was booked just two minutes later after a two footed challenge for the only booking of the game. Then in injury time, he could have had a dramatic equaliser when he dribbled brilliantly into the area only to see his fierce shot rebound off the post with the keeper well beaten.

It was a real shock defeat for the Harps and Kilkenny did enough to suggest that they won’t be propping up the table come the end of the season as they have done in the last two campaigns.

Harps will have to improve in all areas, but hopefully the return of the trio of suspended players will give them the grit to overcome highly fancied UCD at Finn Park on Friday night. A win is essential as defeat at the hands of the students would leave Harps an incredible 9 points adrift after only a few weeks of the season.

FINN HARPS: James Gallagher, Nicky Carville, Charlie McCormack, Declan Boyle, Martin Ferry, Eloka Asokuh, Tom Mohan, Neil Lloyd, Niall Bonner, Paddy McGrenaghan (Crossan 75), Ross Connolly. Subs: Sean McGowan for Lloyd (75 mins), Gary Crossan for McGrenaghan (75 mins), Sean Friars for Bonner (77 mins), Chris Breen, Gavin Cullen.

Kilkenny City: David O’Neill, Aiden O’Sullivan, Eric McCormack, Mark Andrews, Niall Andrews, Brian Mallon, Alan Mulcahy, Gareth Cooney, Philip Gorman, Barry Wood, Mike Comerford. Subs: Ian Early for Commerford (53 mins), Peter Curran, John P. McDonagh, Damien Coogan, Tadgh Murphy.

Referee: Mark Gough (Limerick)