Late Cousins goal earns crucial point for Rovers

TONY COUSINS'S late equaliser against Finn Harps rescued Shamrock Rovers from a damaging defeat in a thrilling FAI National League Premier Division game at Tolka Park last night.

But Rovers' inept first-half showing, which saw them 2-0 down at the interval, must have given their followers cause for concern in a small crowd of scarcely more than 400.

It all began to go badly wrong for Rovers after 17 minutes when Aaron Lynch fouled Paddy McGranaghan 25 yards out from goal. Pierce Walsh marked his return to the Harps side with the most brilliant of direct free-kicks to place the ball into the top right-hand corner of Robbie Horgan's net.

Rovers' frustration boiled up three minutes later when referee Dennis McArdle inexplicably waved play on as Cousins was blatantly pulled down by David Deery as he ran through on goal.

The decision clearly upset Rovers as they lost their shape for a while and were soon duly punished by a second goal. Stephen Kelly was initially guilty of a bad miss when heading wide, totally unchallenged, from Jonathan Minnock's corner in the 29th minute. But two minutes later, Harps did score again.

McGranaghan burst through from midfield as Harps got forward well. He played the ball wide to Jonathan Speak who knocked it inside to James Mulligan. Mulligan was tackled by Paul Whelan, but the ball broke kindly for Speak who shot home from 12 yards for his first goal in two months.

Rovers regrouped at the interval and tore into Harps from the restart. Stuart Gauld had to head off the line from a Sean Francis lob after a poor clearance from goalkeeper Darren Nash on 51 minutes. They were then thrown a lifeline on 64 minutes with a well worked goal. Cousins headed down a cross from Chris Malone for Derek Tracey to score from 10 yards with a low right-foot drive.

In a rousing finish, Rovers pushed forward and got their reward on 86 minutes when Cousins timed his run to perfection to arrive in behind a tired Harps defence to head a precise Pat Fenlon cross into the back of the net. The relief was palpable.