Harps make Shelbourne fight for a point

For the second successive game a strangely unconvincing Shelbourne had to scrap to steal a point. They now find themselves a slightly disconcerting six points behind champions St Patrick's Athletic and joint leaders Cork City, albeit after just three games.

Finn Harps, already winners in Dublin a fortnight ago, on this evidence will challenge the fancied sides and could be forgiven for coming away from Tolka Park last night feeling unlucky not to have taken two more points after a well organised performance.

Finn Harps just about shaded the first-half thanks largely to the solidity, and no little skill, of their back four against an unusually ineffective Shelbourne front two of Pat Morley and, particularly, Liam Kelly.

Shelbourne did begin well and might have been two goals up within the opening eight minutes; Morley shooting wide across goal while Brian McKenna, on his Harps debut, saved well from a Pat Scully diving header.

Harps settled, however, and passed the ball well, looking dangerous when they got forward, against a somewhat lethargic Shelbourne.

Former Shelbourne midfielder, Brian Flood brought the first important save out of Alan Gough with a meaty 25-yard volley in the 20th minute while Scully hooked clear off the line after Gough could only parry a Davy Dowling header from Pascal Vaudequin's cross.

A mistake by Vaudequin then almost gifted Shelbourne a goal, when his back pass put Morley through, but McKenna again did well to avert the danger by saving at the striker's feet.

The second half offered more endeavour than enterprise by both sides with Shelbourne's attack continually looking ineffective against the Harps back four.

Harps, having defended superbly, might then have snatched a winner on 76 minutes, courtesy of a blunder by Gough, who totally misjudged Jonathon Minnock's cross, Scully making a desperate saving tackle to take the ball off the feet of Davy Dowling.

Shelbourne: Gough; Neville, Scully, McCarthy, D Geoghegan; Baker, Fitzgerald, Fenlon, Ginty; Morley, Kelly. Subs: R Baker for Kelly (56 mins), Doyle for Fitzgerald (74 mins), Heary for D Baker (84 mins.).

Finn Harps: McKenna; Vaudequin, Dykes, Boyle, Minnock; Mohan, O'Brien, Flood, Kavanagh; Mulligan, Dowling. Subs: Kelly for O'Brien (63 mins), Speak for Mulligan (88 mins).

Referee: T Tully (Cork).