Finn Harps U21s overcome Letterkenny Rovers thanks to late double

Two goals in the dying moments, from Sean O'Donnell and Max Johnston, saw Finn Harps Under-21s earn a come-from-behind win over Letterkenny Rovers in the Ulster Senior League.

Letterkenny Rovers 2
Finn Harps Under-21s 3

Harps twice came from a deficit to earn a first win of the USL campaign and leave Rovers still searching for a League win.

It was a night that saw Michael Connolly, the referee, flash eleven cards, six of which were for dissent.

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Rovers left-back Rory Gallagher picked up two of those yellows in quick succession after contesting a decision to award a free-kick for a handball infringement in the 40th minute.

By that time, Rovers were 1-0 in front as Tim Callaghan headed in from a Luke Parke corner on 29 minutes.

The goal arrived just after a Gearoid McDermott header, also from a set-piece by Parke, was taken off the goal-line.

Earlier, Harps' Shaunie Bradley fired over and O'Donnell lobbed off-target when he got in around the back.

Callaghan's goal paved the way for a few moments of Rovers dominance, with McDermott heading at Ryan Galvin from a McKane cross while McKane himself shot well over.

Another Rovers attack forced a Harps defender to clip off his own crossbar before Harps threatened at the other end, Bradley clipping narrowly wide after superb work by Jamie McKinney.

Harps drew level on 56 minutes when Bradley found a way through following a corner.

However, parity lasted just two minutes as Gareth Doherty, on as a half-time substitute, converted from the penalty spot after Callaghan was fouled.

Nine minutes from the end, Harps were down to ten men when Caoimhin Bonner was sent off for a foul on Rian Akpentinyi.

O'Donnell managed to find the bottom corner from the edge of the area to ignite Harps.

Stephen McNutt's young charges were indebted to 'keeper Galvin, who produced a pair of brilliant saves to deny Simon McGlynn. Galvin brilliantly turned away a testing free-kick from Parke to keep the freezing night in the melting pot.

In the second minute of added time, Eugene Deery's attempted back-pass had too much purchase and Johnston tucked in the winner.

Letterkenny Rovers: Mark Anthony McGinley, Leon Doherty, Rory Gallagher, Eugene Deery, Tim Callaghan, Odhran McKane (Gareth Doherty half-time), Simon McGlynn, Rian Akpentinyi, Gearoid McDermott (Dean McCarry 67), Luke Parke, Aidy Delap.

Finn Harps Under-21s: Ryan Galvin, Ruadhan Feeney (Jay Bradley 64), Brendan McLaughlin, Sean O'Kane, Kevin Jordan, Jamie McKinney, Ben O'Donnell (Caoimhin Bonner half-time), Damian Duffy (Gareth Bradley 70), Shaunie Bradley (Max Johnston 72), Nathan Plumb (Tiernan Ruddy half-time), Sean O'Donnell.

Referee: Michael Connolly.