A debut goal from Sean Patton helped Finn Harps to a narrow win over Kerry FC at Finn Park on Thursday evening. 

Finn Harps 1 – 0 Kerry FC 

By Stuart Connolly

Chance after chance went astray as Patton bagged the only goal of the game late in the first half to strengthen Harps’ position in the playoffs.

After the stalemate at Bishopsgate, Darren Murphy made three changes to his side, with Kevin Jordan able to make his first appearance of the campaign. Sean Patton was unveiled as a new signing on Wednesday afternoon, on loan from Derry City, and he went straight into the starting eleven. And 16-year-old Gavin McAteer was handed his first start of the season, 24 hours after he signed a three-year deal with the club.

Samuel Aladesanusi was the only change for Kerry FC, and it was those in green who had the chances in the early exchanges. Sean McGrath was able to get a couple of shots off, but on both occasions, the ball glided into the gloves of Tim-Oliver Heimer. 

Similar to the away side, Harps’ first two opportunities fell to the same player as Patrick Ferry found himself in the right areas, but one effort was blocked by Andy Spain, and from the corner that followed, he headed narrowly wide with just over a quarter of an hour gone. 

With 20 minutes gone, the base of the post was struck, and the woodwork can either be your best friend or your worst nightmare. But on this occasion, it came to Harps’ aid as Ronan Teahan’s long-range strike kissed the base of the upright with Heimer rooted to the spot.

Just prior to the half hour, Ferry was thwarted once again, this time by Aaron O’Sullivan after a precise pass that split the defence from Gavin McAteer. 

Fast forward a few minutes, and the duo were paired again as Finn Harps broke the deadlock. McAteer found Ferry in acres of space down the left, and after a short run forward, his through ball was perfect for Sean Patton to roll into the bottom left corner.

It could have been a two-goal lead prior to the interval, but a flash shot from Success Edogun drifted wide as stoppage time approached.

Ten minutes into the second half, Patton was in the thick of the action again, and two opportunities fell into place for the former Finn Harps Academy player. McAteer served up the first for him, but his strike was deflected wide, while the second shot floated into the grasp of O’Sullivan. 

With 20 minutes to go, Harps continued to create and find the right space, but that final touch evaded them quite often. With just shy of ten minutes to go, after what seemed like a conveyor belt of half chances, one big chance fell at the feet of McAteer, but with the goal at his mercy, he rushed his shot and sliced it agonisingly wide of the post.

That miss was almost punished instantly as Kerry FC countered, but Ryan Kelliher’s low drive fizzed past the post.

Unfortunately, the game ended on a sour note as a skirmish commenced after the final whistle. A whole host of players and coaches got involved, and it all ended with Conor McCarthy, Kennedy Amechi, and Kevin McHugh being sent off.

Finn Harps: Tim-Oliver Heimer; Jamie Watson, Matthew Makinson, Noe Baba, Kevin Jordan(Stephen Doherty 74); Ryan Rainey, Tony McNamee(Max Johnston 90), Patrick Ferry(Max Hutchison 90), Gavin McAteer (Conor Tourish 89); Success Edogun, Sean Patton.

Kerry FC: Aaron O’Sullivan; Sean O’Connell, Andy Spain, Ethan Kos, Samuel Aladesanusi; Sean McGrath, Ronan Teahan(Graham O’Reilly 76), Nathan Gleeson(Cian Brosnan 70), Daire McCarthy; Ryan Kelliher, Kennedy Amechi (Okwuy Okwute ht).

Referee: Glen Geraghty

 

Lively Patton goals on his debut to give Harps victory was last modified: July 4th, 2024 by Staff Writer

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