MATCH REPORT: Finn Harps Vs Galway United (Men’s First Division)

HARPS 2-2 UNITED

Ten man Galway United earned a point on the road and continued their unbeaten run in a chaotic game up in Donegal, where United came away with a 2-2 draw.

United held on for over 70 minutes with ten men away from home, where the game had a bit of everything from delicious chips over goalies to red cards and last minute equalisers, and all in the lashing rain in Ballybofey. See a breakdown of the game, beginning with your United XI below.

YOUR UNITED LINEUP 📝

FIRST HALF 1️⃣

1′ UNITED KICK US OFF

United get us underway here in a wet Finn Park, with an 8PM kick off. If you would like more context on the game, read the match preview HERE

13′ UNITED GET THE FIRST CHANCE OF THE GAME

It’s been a tame start to the game, with both sides finding their feet and Harps having the majority of the possession. Edward McCarthy hits a shot from just outside the box which is blocked.

15′ RYAN FLOOD WITH A HUGE CHANCE FOR HARPS

Ryan Flood breaks down the left hand side after a brilliant ball, he shoots from a tight angle and Brendan Clarke is forced to save, which he does brilliantly.

16′ RONAN MANNING SCORES!!!

Harps try to play out from their defence but the centre back tries to feint his way past Ronan Manning to no avail, as Manning picks up the ball and finds himself one on one with the keeper, he then scores a beautiful lobbed finish over the Finn Harps goalkeeper to put United one nil to the good, what a goal it was.

21′ BJ BANDA SHOT FIZZES JUST WIDE OF UNITED’S GOAL

Harps again attacking down the left, Banda this time, his shot rolls across the United goal and goes out for a goal kick, another chance for Harps.

23′ VINCENT BORDEN GETS SENT OFF

Vincent Borden slides in recklessly with his studs up and earns a red card. United are down to ten men for the remaining 70 minutes of the game.

35′ MANNING FIRES A FREE KICK JUST OVER

Manning stands over a free kick from 25 yards out, and it floats just wide

45′ HALF TIME IN BALLYBOFEY

The teams go into the half, with United the happier of the two thanks to a piece of magic from Ronan Manning, but with ten men, United have been feeling the pressure from Harps. There’s a huge second half ahead now for both sides.

SECOND HALF 2️⃣

45′ HARPS EQUALISE

Just a few moments into the second half, Ryan Flood runs down the left and floats in a cross to Sean O’Donnell, his header downwards bounces through the legs of Killian Brouder, bounces again and evades Brendan Clarke in the United goal and Harps are level.

51′ HUGE CHANCE FOR HARPS AGAIN

Yet again Ryan Flood is causing havoc on the left, he crosses in the ball and Patrick Ferry almost buries it, but a combination of Killian Brouder and Brendan Clarke, somehow keep it out.

63′ HARPS MISFIRE FROM CLOSE RANGE

A stray ball breaks out of the United box and Harps hit a volley from the edge of the box in a great position but it flies over the bar, it’s end to end to stuff here in Finn Park.

67′ ROB SLEVIN OUT OF ABSOLUTELY NOWHERE!!

United have a corner which is cleared out and it comes out to Regan Donelon who whips in a brilliant ball to the back post, it lands at the back post to Brouder who calmly passes it across goal for Slevin and it creeps in under the Harps keeper. What a way to salvage a stray ball from a corner and a great goal for United with ten men.

71′ HARPS AGAIN CAUSE TROUBLE

Harps have the ball in the box, absolute chaos ensues with multiple players all trying to win it and it somehow ends up for a United goal kick, the Tribesmen are lucky not to concede within the madness.

82′ WHAT A SAVE FROM BRENDAN CLARKE TO DENY HARPS

Harps strike from outside the box into the bottom corner, but Brendan Clarke gets down low and saves extremely well under pressure to keep United ahead.

90′ HARPS EQUALISE LAST MINUTE.

From a Harps corner, the ball is whipped into the box where it finds McCallion, who mis hits the ball, it dribbles into the bottom corner, Brendan Clarke tries to claw it out but to no avail and Harps equalise to bring everything equal in Finn Park.

FT: HARPS 2-2 UNITED

NEXT HOME GAME ⏭

Galway United play Treaty United on Monday 7th August at 5PM in Eamonn Deacy Park. Get your match tickets HERE

NEXT AWAY GAME 🚌

Galway United play Waterford away on Friday 11th August. Get your supporters bus tickets HERE