Finn Harps lose two-goal lead as Cobh fightback earns a draw

Finn Harps blew a two-goal lead as Cobh Ramblers denied Dave Rogers' men a first home win of 2023 on Friday night.

Finn Harps 2 Cobh Ramblers 2

Séamas Keogh and Filip Da Silva netted their first Harps goals and the way to victory was paved only for Cobh to hit back and leave ten-man Harps hanging on.

Jack Doherty, who had blasted a 50th minute penalty over the River End, scored twice to earn Shane Keegan's men a share of the points.

Not long after fluffing his lines from 12 yards, former Wexford attacker Doherty brought his side back into it soon after and the nerves whistled through the old place, with 1,213 in attendance.

Harps were without injured captain Keith Cowan and his centre-back partner Daithi McCallion, who is on duty with the Northern Ireland Under-21s.

Their presence was missed in the second half with Doherty drawing Wexford level in the 72nd minute. Pierce Phillips' cross from the left missed Wilson Waweru, but Doherty was able to neatly control and finish.

With eight minutes to go, the red mist fell as Harps sub Sean O'Donnell was sent off for a bad challenge on Charlie Lyons.

The kick off was delayed by 12 minutes, owing to a medical incident on the terrace.

Harps took the lead after just 42 seconds. Caoimhin Porter's cross was cushioned by Da Silva for Okwuy Okwute, whose initial shot was cleared off the goal-line. Keogh was quickest to react, the former Sligo Rovers man tucking to the net.

It was Harps' first goal in open play this season with Ryan Rainey's three penalties and a Ryan Flood free kick accounting for their sum total until this one.

Like the old yarn about the buses, two came along at once.

A clearly-energised Harps doubled the lead in the 13th minute.

A chaotic scene ensued from a corner and Da Silva's persistence paid off in a crowded goalmouth as he prodded past Lee Steacy to the bottom corner from eight yards.

The 19-year-old, nicknamed 'El Matador', was recruited from Ullensaker/Kisa IL in Norway, where he scored 33 goals in 39 games and was recommended to Rogers by Norwegian-based Chris Harrington.

Cobh were shell-shocked and a Brendan Frahill attempt that soared out of the ground in the 22nd minute drew ironic cheers from the Town End.

Harps, though, were in the mood at this stage of the night. Okwute's whipped cross was knocked clear by Lyons with the scampering Michael Harris looking dangerous at the time.

Da Silva saw another effort deflected wide and Keogh, from almost half-way, was off cue with Steacy well off his line.

Cobh were almost gifted a way back into the game in the 33rd minute, but Tim Hiemer saved superbly from Doherty, who had stolen possession from Flood.

Roy Keane, a former Cobh player, was back at St Colman's Park this week alongside fellow pundits Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher as part of a new series they're filming. Their analysis of Cobh's first-half wouldn't have been pleasant, but Ramblers were rejuvenated on the resumption.

Three minutes into the second half, Cian Browne riffled a reminder that Cobh weren't going to wilt, his well-struck effort ricocheting wide.

Seconds later, Katlego Mashigo took Phillips down in the penalty area and Cobh were handed a way back. While Doherty's penalty flew all the way to the Finn, the visiting striker atoned for his miss within five minutes, slotting home after being put in by Phillips.

Showing little fatigued from the 432km trek to Ballybofey, Cobh equalised 18 minutes from the end.

It was a repeat cast with Phillips providing the assist for Doherty to finish and seal a point.

Finn Harps: Tim Hiemer; Caoimhin Porter, Noe Baba, Ellis Farrar, Ryan Flood; Katlego Mashigo, Séamas Keogh, Ryan Rainey; Filip Da Silva, Okwuy Okwute (Sean O'Donnell 76), Michael Harris (Shane McMonagle 62).

Cobh Ramblers: Lee Steacy; Brendan Frahill (Jake Hegarty 87), Charlie Lyons, Cian Browne; Pierce Phillips, Dale Holland (Conor Drinan 78), Jason Abbott, James O'Leary (Issa Kargo 78); Jack Doherty, Wilson Waweru.

Referee: Alan Patchell.