Spot-on Rainey earns Harps first win of the season

Goalscorer Ryan Rainey celebrates after giving Harps the lead at Bishopsgate (Pic Joe Boland, North West Newspix)

Ryan Rainey transformed his third penalty in 5 video games and in so doing earned his workforce a primary victory of the brand new marketing campaign as they acquired the higher of Longford City at Bishopsgate.

Longford City . . . 0

Finn Harps  . . . 1

Rainey’s objective, 9 minutes from time, was the spotlight of a dour league conflict which did little to excite.

The sport was determined by the penalty which got here after Harps substitute Okwuy Okwute was bundled over contained in the field by Kyle O’Connor.

Rainey, who additionally scored from the spot towards Galway United and Athlone City, saved his nerve to ship the keeper the fallacious method and seal a welcome first win for brand new supervisor Dave Rogers.

Up till Rainey’s strike it was tough to see the place a objective would come from as each side struggled within the remaining third. 

Neither keeper was actually examined in a recreation missing in high quality.

Harps squandered an early alternative when Ryan Flood shot over after Longford did not take care of a Ryan Rainey ball into the realm.

Frustratingly, Harps couldn’t construct on that shiny opening, Repeatedly a sloppy go or fallacious possibility noticed them give the ball away cheaply and infrequently did they appear to be inflicting the house defence any issues.

That mentioned the house supporters got little to be enthusiastic about by their workforce both.

Motion from Saturday night time’s recreation at Bishopsgate

Their finest opening fell to Joshua Giurgi 9 minutes in however after being picked out by a beautiful go from Aodh Dervin, Giurgi acquired his connection all fallacious when he may so simply have scored.

Harps had captain Keith Cown again within the aspect after he missed the Wexford recreation by way of damage. Nonetheless, clearly his hamstring downside remains to be a difficulty as he needed to hobble off after 20 minutes and was changed by Kevin Jordan.

The younger Buncrana man slotted in at left again and might completely happy along with his efficiency in what was solely his second first workforce look.

In a poor first 45 minutes, Longford’s solely different probability got here the way in which of Francis Campbell however he blazed excessive and extensive after being arrange by Gary Armstrong. 

Cian Lynch of Finn Harps is overwhelmed within the air

It was an identical story after the break. Aodh Dervin went closest for the house aspect, firing simply extensive ten minutes in.

Each groups made modifications and it was two of the Harps substitutes who mixed for the penalty with Okwute operating on to a beautiful by way of ball from Seamus Keogh.

Up stepped Rainey to attain the ensuing penalty and seal a primary win for Harps.

Longford City: Brady, O’Brien, Elworthy, Serdeniuk, O’Connor, Byrne, Giurgi (Ibraham 66), Dervin, Armstrong (Fay 80), Meaney, Campbell (Boudiof 66).

Finn Harps: Hiemer, Porter, Farrar, McCallion, Cowan (Jordan 20), Rainey, Flood, Baba, Da Silva (O’Donnell 61), Lynch (Okwute 71), Harris (Keogh 71).

Referee: D Murphy.

Pictures by Joe Boland (North West Newspix)

Spot-on Rainey earns Harps first win of the season was final modified: March 18th, 2023 by Employees Reporter