Faherty's late goal grabs vital win for United
Galway United 2
Finn Harps 1
A Vinny Faherty header two minutes into injury time sealed just a second win of the season for Galway United at Eamonn Deacy Park last Friday night that finally lifted them out of the relegation zone for the first time this season.
Just as important, however, was the fact that his goal ensured defeat for cynicism, for gamesmanship, for blackguardism, for negativity, for a horrible brand of football that tried to suck the life and the joy out of a game between two sides who went into the game as the bottom two in the division.
Three teams will be relegated this season, and the fervent hope amongst anyone with even a passing interest in football is that Finn Harps are one of those sides, as their display on Friday night has no place in the top-flight.
They were a horrible side to watch, with sly kicks and digs and nudges – and some not so sly either. There is absolutely no problem with physicality in the game, but there is a line and a host of visiting players crossed that on Friday night.
Kevin Devaney gave Harps a torrid time when the two sides met in Finn Park earlier this season – he was booted into the air twice early on Friday’s game. His direct marker, Damien McNulty, was eventually booked on the half-hour mark for persistent fouling.
Conor Winn was pushed in the back as he tried to shepherd the ball out over the endline just before half-time – he ended up going out over the boundary wall. Lee Grace turned to walk away after letting the ball run out for a goalkick moment earlier. He was kicked by Caolan McAleer with the ball well dead.
In the end, four visiting players found their names in the book of referee Ray Matthews, who may or may not have won his referee’s badge in a lucky bag such was his own poor display and grasp of the rules on Friday night.
Supporters of the Donegal aide will point to the fact that three United players were also booked, but while Stephen Folan saw yellow for a foul on Danny Morrissey, both Ronan Murray and Colm Horgan were booked for dissent.
Speaking of dissent, Harps manager, Ollie Horgan, was sent from the technical area in the 83rd minute in his first game back on the sideline, having served a ban for his dismissal against Bohemians at the end of April.
As nice a man as you can meet away from the sideline, Horgan seems to just ‘turn’ on the sideline, and if the manager behaves like that, perhaps the players feel duty-bound to behave in the manner they did on Friday night.
Full report in this week's Connacht Tribune.