Battling Ardee make point as Ross sees red

ARDEE CELTIC BOYNE HARPS 1 1

ARDEE Celtic moved another step closer to Premier Division safety with a hard-earned point at home to high-flying Boyne Harps on Friday night.

The Deesiders overcame Ross Gaynor’s dismissal early in the second half to go ahead through Stuart Osborne’s goal on 65 minutes. Óisín McGee provided the delivery over the top for Osborne to rush onto, control and finish to the net.

However, Conor Lynch’s side were unable to maintain their advantage as Boyne levelled 15 minutes from time, Luke McDonnell volleying home from point-blank range after Ardee had failed to clear their lines from a Stephen Carter corner.

Gaynor’s red card looked harsh on first viewing, but the manner in which the hosts persevered without their talismanic attacker will perhaps please their manager most.

Granted, Boyne Harps had opportunities to depart with all three points. Indeed, they should have gone ahead in the first half when Ardee’s Conor McManus was penalised for a jersey pull in the box, only for Martin Kelly to scuff the resulting spot kick wide of the upright.

After falling behind to Osborne’s strike, the Drogheda men dominated and Mickey Leech saw a shot deflected off a defender’s ankle onto the post before Ardee