Super Sub Seani saves City blushes

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It was the homecoming for the newly crowned First Division champions as they returned to Turner’s Cross for the first time since securing promotion back to the Premier Division. Standing in City’s way, were a hungry Finn Harps side who are in a fight for a playoff spot. 

The Rebel Army were coming off the back of a comfortable 4-1 win in Mounthawk Park against Kerry FC. Barry Coffey bagged himself a hat trick on the night, including a panenka penalty to seal City’s victory. It was just one change from the side that won in Tralee, with Evan McLaughlin coming in for Jack Doherty, who fell out of the squad completely. Tim Clancy was set to miss his final game of his suspension, and will return to the sideline next week against Bray Wanderers.

As for City’s opponents, Harps came into this one in a good run of form, having won each of their last three matches. The most recent of which was a 1-0 home win against Longford Town, courtesy of a Success Edogun penalty. Harps were hoping to continue their playoff push down south.

City started off the brighter of the two sides, despite once again fielding a second string side, and they tested Harps keeper Oisin Cooney just two minutes in. A Cian Bargary header into midfield was received by Cian Murphy. Murphy muscled off the Harps midfield and charged forward, before releasing a powerful strike from the edge of the box towards the bottom left corner, which was pushed away by Cooney at full stretch.

Cooney was once again put to work with five minutes gone. Evan McLaughlin swung in a corner that was easily cleared by Finn Harps. Cian Bargary picked up the scraps and sent a cross in from the left hand side, which was flicked on by a Finn Harps defender. It was picked up by Conor Drinan who played it back to Evan McLaughlin inside the box, but the Derryman’s shot went just to the side of Cooney so the teenager was able to keep it out.

Finn Harps were under immense pressure, but somehow took the lead with eleven minutes played. Sloppy play in midfield from City allowed David Cawley to break through and lead a Finn Harps attack. Cawley played a one two with Sean Patton before playing it out on the left to Patrick Ferry. Ferry swung a delightful ball into the box, where it found the head of Tony McNamee who headed it brilliantly into the bottom right corner from close range to give the visitors the lead.

City were all over Finn Harps, but just couldn't find the back of the net. It wasn't really an issue of creating chances like it has been many times this season, things just weren't really falling for City on the night. It was epitomised by an Evan McLaughlin free kick twenty minutes in. McLaughlin bent the free kick over the wall and it looked destined for the back of the net, but the effort somehow whistled wide.

City’s breakthrough almost came in the most bizarre manner, with Finn Harps coming very close to conceding through an own goal. Josh Fitzpatrick bombed down the right hand side and got to the byline before sending a low cross across the box. The cross flew past everyone to Success Edogun, who swung his boot through it to clear it. However, Edogun’s clearance hitt off of Max Hiutchinson and went flying towards the top corner, only for Oisin Cooney to somehow get his fingertips to it and keep Finn Harps ahead.

The scoreline wouldn't stay the same for long, as the visitors found an unlikely second on the stroke of halftime. More sloppy play from City on the left hand side of midfield allowed Tony McNamee to pick up the ball and drive, before slipping Success Edogun through down the right hand side. Edogun charged past Matthew Kiernan by the byline and snuck it low past Aidan Dowling at his near post to double Finn Harps’ lead.

City went into half time two nil down despite definitely being the better team. Messy play for both goals were costly for City and they needed to find a way back into it in the second half. 

City were struggling to get back to their dominant selves early in the second half, so Jamie Hamill decided it was time for a switch up. Cathal O’Sullivan, Malik Dijksteel, Ruairi Keating and Seani Maguire were all introduced in the 59th minute. They replaced Cian Murphy, Cian Bargary, Barry Coffey and Conor Drinan.

Safe to say, the substitutes worked, with City getting a goal back five minutes later. Good passing play from City on the right hand side led to the ball finding the feet of Josh Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick cut inside and drove towards the Finn Harps box, unleashing a powerful shot on goal from the edge of the area. The best Oisin Cooney could do was parry the effort, which rolled into the path of the oncoming Seani Maguire, who tucked away the rebound to bring the hosts back into the game.

The goal kicked life into City, who began pushing and pushing for the equaliser, and they'd get it through a bit of luck, but the same usual player. Malik Dijksteel went charging at the Finn Harps defence before being cynically brought down just outside the box by Jamie Watson. Seani Maguire took it and hit his effort straight at the Finn Harps wall. The wall didn't quite work as intended however, as the shot deflected off of the inside of Max Johnstons right leg, wrongfooted Oisin Cooney and nestled in the bottom right corner to level up the game.

City had their leveller, but they weren't done there, and went pushing for a winner. Both sides went close in quick succession with eight minutes to play. John O’Donovan played an incisive pass through to Matthew Kiernan who burst away down the left hand side. Kiernan fizzed a ball in towards Seani Maguire, who flicked it goalward first time, but his effort was deflected out for a corner. 

The resulting corner was dealt with by Finn Harps, with a Tony McNamee header sending Success Edogun charging forward leading a Harps counter attack. Edogun slips the ball left to Max Johnston who plays a brilliant through ball to McNamee who goes through bearing down on goal. McNamee went to chip Aidan Dowling, but his effort just trickles wide of the Cork City goal.

City went so very close to a winner yet again just two minutes later. Cathal O’Sullivan picked up the ball and danced through the Harps midfield before sending the ball out wide on the left to Matthew Kiernan. Kiernan swung another ball in for Seani Maguire, who again got a first time flick on it. Seani’s shot looked good, but hit the outside of the post and out for a goal kick.

City kept pushing right till the end and came close late on with a Seani Maguire shot from distance whistling past the top left corner, but ultimately the game finished level and both teams left with a point. 

I thought City were very unlucky to concede the two that they did in the first half, with the rebel army playing really well throughout the first half of the game. It took them time to recover from the deficit in the second half, but the introduction of the four lads on the sixty minute mark gave them another gear and ended up getting a draw out of it. To me I think it would be beneficial to give Seani and Keats more and more game time together without risking an injury, just to get them used to each other. Overall a decent performance from City and were well worth the point.

To be honest I was quite impressed with Finn Harps, especially on the counter as they were very good and caused City’s backline problems on the counter attack with both of Harps’ goals coming from counters. I thought that they were very defensively solid for large portions of the game, especially in the first half where City were piling on quite a lot of pressure on the backline.

The Man of the Match could have gone to a few players. Oisin Cooney, Tony McNamee and Success Edogun were particularly impressive for Finn Harps, but it has to go to Seani Maguire for his impact off of the bench. The Kilkenny man made a massive difference after coming on, scoring both City goals and looking levels above most other players on the pitch. You have to feel bad for Harps fans seeing him, Keating, Cathal and Dijksteel coming off of the City bench.

City will continue the end of their league campaign in the Carlisle Grounds as they travel to Bray next Friday night. As for Finn Harps, they have another long trip south, as they travel to Mounthawk Park to face Kerry FC, also on Friday night.