Galway United 2
Finn Harps 2

Galway United failed to register a home victory at the fifth attempt, despite taking the lead on two occasions against a resolute Finn Harps in Terryland Park last Friday night.

MAKING SPACE . . . Galway United midfielder John Russell takes on the Finn Harps defence in Friday's draw with Finn Harps.

Goals from John Russell and Jay O'Shea for United and replies from Conor Gethins and Stephen Parkhouse for Harps ensured a share of the spoils.

The deadlock was broken in the 29th minute by Russell when a long punt into the Harps box caused panic between Declan Boyle and Stuart Malcolm. As the Harps pair managed to get tangled together, the ball fell kindly to Russell who fired home from ten yards.

Frustratingly, Galway only managed to hold the lead for two minutes when Gethins drew the visitors level. A direct ball from the back was flicked on by Stephen Parkhouse into the path of Gethins and the Harps striker rounded the keeper before dispatching the ball to the Galway net - sending the sides in all-square at the break.

O'Shea put United ahead for the second time ten minutes into the second half. Substitute Mark Leech flicked the ball on and full-back Shaun Holmes lost his footing, allowing O'Shea to tuck the ball away with an ice-cool finish.

Harps drew level in the 71st minute with a screamer from Stephen Parkhouse after United had failed to clear their lines. When the ball dropped kindly to the Harps striker, he let fly with a blistering left foot volley from the edge of the box, finding the top corner to give the visitors a deserved point.

Afterwards, United manager Jeff Kenna was clearly disappointed with the result. "It's another point, but obviously we would prefer to have won all three. We are both at the wrong end of the table and maybe it was a case of holding onto what we had instead of going on to win it, but we've had two tough games in a week," he said.

"It's a hard job - a lot more difficult than I thought it was going to be, but we are still up for the challenge," added Kenna.

Galway United: Rogers; Nooitmeer, Fitzgerald, Charles, McCulloch; O'Shea, Russell, Deegan, O'Brien; O'Flynn (Leech ,45) , Faherty (Glynn, 87)
Subs not used: Fenn, Rouse, Sinnott,

Finn Harps: J Gallagher, Labonte, Boyle, Malcolm, Holmes, Shields, McGowan, Breen (Funston, 75), Williams, Parkhouse, Gethins,.
Subs not used: Brolly, C. Gallagher, Mukendi, Cullen

Referee: A. Buttimer (Cork).

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