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A jaw-dropping punt from Dave Webster on a night of drama was the difference between Finn Harps staying in the Premier Division of the SSE Airtricity League or having to endure the play-offs and Longford Town on Saturday.
Twenty seconds from the end of the designated five minutes of injury time with Harps a goal from Adam Foley for good, goalkeeper Mark Anthony McGinley made a catch in the barn and Kurtis Byrne, the Waterford FC substitute, seemed sure of a tie only for his Effort to somehow be pulled from the line by the Harps defender.
Time stopped for a second.
What felt like hours earlier, Foley drove home from close range in 27 minutes to give Ollie Horgan’s team the lead and it would be the only goal of the game.
Austrian forward Alexander Kogler found Barry McNamee down the inside right channel and his direct pass was received by Foley sliding into the six-yard box, with the finishing touch of defender Niall O’Keeffe’s goal effort. Foley’s effort would have failed anyway.
The Donegal team knew of his hopes of avoiding ninth place and the lottery it brings was hinged on more than just a home win. Only then would hopes of a favor from Tolka Park or Turner’s Cross enter the equation, where Shelbourne and Derry City battled for safety.
The visitors made the long way to the northwest with a third place still within reach and a possible European qualification. They would finish it in fifth place, although Byrne’s failure would not have overtaken Sligo Rovers in fourth place.
The visiting team produced the best opportunity of the first quarter when Matty Smith broke free of a midfield mess only to see Harps goalkeeper McGinley win the game by staying on his feet for as long as possible.
Brian Murphy kept busy. Foley hit a flush in the 11th minute to get a save from the Waterford goalkeeper, as did Kosovar Sadiki on top. After Foley’s goal, Kogler headed just over a Ryan Connolly corner as Harps looked to take advantage of his lead.
John Martin, at 37 minutes, showed good control. First, get away from McNamee and slide a defensive line so straight it could have put a spirit level at rest.
Martin got on McGinley just to shoot wide inches off the post, so close to those on Fran Rockett’s bench cheers rose, thinking he was inside.
Jack Byrne’s goal for Shamrock Rovers at Shelbourne meant that at halftime, Harps was safe as he was, with Waterford knowing that if they could turn it around and Sligo held the lead at Dundalk, that third place was available.
With the league champions the only team to beat Harps in their previous seven games, there was form for the hosts.
McNamee, four minutes into the second half, showed that confidence to work at an angle and get a good save from Murphy to its full extent.
Not to be left behind, moments later, Waterford caused a nervous moment for the home team when O’Keeffe opened with a shot.
Smith fired into Harps’ area for another McGinley save before falling close to Mark Russell amid penalty appeals.
Midway through the second half, Harps reached inches of a second. A deep cross from Stephen Folan was greeted by Webster’s looping header and the ball bounced off the crossbar where Martin blocked Foley in front of goal.
In the back of everyone’s mind, they might have had the feeling that this was it. It wasn’t, with the late drama yet to unfold. The Waterford opportunity that came and went to get a taste of the latest act of what was, even by our own domestic standards, a rather extraordinary season. Harps, thanks to Foley and Webster, has lived to tell the tale.
Find harps: Mark Anthony McGinley; Shane McEleney (Mark Coyle 73), Kosovar Sadiki, Stephen Folan; Dave Webster, Ryan Connolly, Gareth Harkin, Barry McNamee, Mark Russell; Adam Foley (Sam Todd 80), Alexander Kogler (Raff Cretaro 56).
Waterford FC: Brian Murphy; Darragh Power (Shane Griffin 60), Jake Davidson, Robbie Weir, Tyreke Wilson (Will Longbottom 90); Robbie McCourt, Niall O’Keefe (Will Fitzgerald 67), Ali Coote (Kurtis Byrne 90); John Martin (Dean Walsh 90), Daryl Murphy, Matty Smith.
Referee: Paul McLaughlin
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