Harps are pegged back in goal feast
BOYNE HARPS BELLURGAN UNITED 4 4
BOYNE Harps made the briefest of returns to the Premier Division summit on Thursday night last after being stung by a stoppage-time equaliser from Bellurgan at United Park.
Results elsewhere over the weekend ensured Harps now occupy third place in the table, and with just four league games remaining their slender hopes of capturing the title have now surely evaporated.
Despite losing Austin McCann and Nathan Llewellyn from the starting line-up at the 11th hour because of flu, Harps made a blazing start and opened up a two-goal lead inside 15 minutes.
The first, in the fifth minute, came slightly against the run of play but was clinical in its execution as Guy Bates and Stephen Carter set in motion a counter-attack that ended with an exquisite chip over the Bellurgan keeper from Martin Kelly.
Even better was to follow from the Drogheda side as Bates roasted two Bellurgan defenders out on the right before crossing to the far post for the on-rushing Carter who headed home from close range.
Despite the very heavy pitch, still recovering from Drogheda United’s friendly with Bohemians two nights before, the goals kept raining down as Bellurgan’s Ciaran Sheelan halved the arrears with a tidy finish on the 25-minute mark.
Then, after some scrappy play from a Harps set piece, Harps’ Carl Dowling arrived in the box on cue to side-foot another excellent finish past Robert Arthur for 3-1.
However, that still wasn’t the end of the first-half scoring as Bellurgan hit back again in stoppage time, Paddy Keenan finding a way past Bryan Smith with an excellent header following a bit of ping-pong in the Harps area.
This Bellurgan team, under new management, stepped up another gear in the second half, showing a meaner streak than when they lost 2-1 at home to Harps before Christmas.
They eventually drew level on the 75-minute mark from another set piece as Aogan McGuinness forced the ball home at the second attempt after Smith had brilliantly parried the initial effort.
Bellurgan had all the momentum at that stage, but somehow Harps lifted themselves again and in the 91st minute substitute Llewellyn released Bates who delivered a fantastic cross into the box from close to the corner flag, and Carter headed home what appeared to be the winning goal - 4-3.
There was to be one more twist, though, as the referee added on a further six minutes for stoppages, during which the visitors grabbed a fortunate equaliser.
Smith had gone off injured by this stage, to be replaced by Ryan Brown, and the youngster was desperately unlucky when McGuinness’ header from a corner kick came back off the upright and bounced into off the keeper despite his desperate efforts to claw the ball out.
There was barely time for Harps to kick off when the referee blew for full-time.
BOYNE HARPS: Bryan Smith (Ryan Brown), Kevin Walsh, Luke McDonnell (Austin McCann), Manny Smith, James Traynor, Carl Dowling (Nathan Llewellyn), Darren McCann, Tom Reilly, Stephen Carter, Martin Kelly (Barry Reynolds), Guy Bates. Subs not used: Mickey Leech, Dean Fitzpatrick.
Results
THURSDAY 25 JANUARY Bradys Cavan Prem Div:
FRIDAY 26 JANUARY
Tully Bookmakers Challenge Cup 2nd rd:
Reserve Cup 2nd rd: Bradys Cavan Prem Div: O’Neills Sports Div 1: Bradys Cavan Div 4:
SATURDAY 27 JANUARY Premier Res:
B Res:
SUNDAY 28 JANUARY Bradys Cavan Prem Div:
O’Neills Sports Div 1: Bradys Cavan Div 2: Bradys Cavan Div 3: Bradys Cavan Div 4:
Fixtures
FRIDAY FEBRUARY 2nd, 8.0 Fitzsimons Cup 1st rd:
O’Neills Sports Div 1: Bradys Cavan Div 2: Bradys Cavan Div 3: Bradys Cavan Div 4:
SATURDAY FEBRUARY 3rd, 3.0 Reilly Cup 1st rd: Premier Res: A Res: B Res: SUNDAY FEBRUARY 4th, 11.45 Oscar Traynor Trophy 2nd rd: FAI Junior Cup 6th rd: Fitzsimons Cup 1st rd: Reilly Cup 1st rd: O’Neills Sports Div 1: Bradys Cavan Div 2: Bradys Cavan Div 3: Bradys Cavan Div 4: