Sport

Harps earn a replay

Dundalk - 1, Finn Harps - 1: Dundalk and Finn Harps have to meet again in the quarter-final of the FAI Cup after a lively encounter…

Fri Feb 08 2002 - 00:00

Dundalk - 1, Finn Harps - 1: Dundalk and Finn Harps have to meet again in the quarter-final of the FAI Cup after a lively encounter at Oriel Park last night.

The replay is fixed for Finn Park on Tuesday night but the Dundalk club are pressing for a change to Sunday because they have a relegation battle with Galway United fixed for Oriel Park on Thursday night.

Last night was the best attendance at Oriel Park in nearly four years, with up to 4,000 swelled by a big contingent from Donegal.

Harps dominated the first half with Paddy McGrenaghan controlling midfield but the home defence marshalled by Aaron Callaghan kept them at bay.

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Then, just before half-time, Dundalk snatched the lead goal against the run of play. This came when Martin Reilly ran onto a good through ball from John Flanagan and lobbed the advancing goalkeeper John Connolly to find the net.

Harps substituted Trevor Scanlon for Declan Boyle at half-time and this tightened up their defence but it was Dundalk that looked the more improved side after the break. They came near to scoring when Gary Haylock hit a good shot in the 58th minute which brought a good save from Connolly.

Then just one minute later the visitors were level when McGrenaghan took a free kick from midfield and Tom Mohan, one of Harps' outstanding players, did great work to bring the ball under control and hit an unstoppable shot from the edge of the area.

The game ebbed and flowed after this with both sides having chances to snatch a winner. Kevin McHugh brought a good save from Connolly in the 68th minute and at the other end Reilly should have got his second when put clean through by a good pass from Haylock. However, he delayed his shot and saw his effort pushed around for a corner.

In the closing minutes Neill Fitzhenry hit a great shot which screamed over the Dundlk bar.

DUNDALK: Connolly, Whyte, Crawley, Callaghan, McGuinness, Flanagan, Kavanagh, Reilly, Haylock, Lawless, Keddy. Sub: Prizeman for Kavanagh 87 minutes.

FINN HARPS: Connolly, Kenny, Sweeney, Fitzhenry, Boyle, Mohan, Devenney, McGrenaghan, Cooke, McHugh, Bradley. Sub: Scanlon for Boyle half-time, Lloyd for Cooke 76 mins.

Referee: H Byrne (Dublin)