Late drama as stoppage time penalty gives UCD win over Finn Harps

A 96th minute penalty by Michael Raggett saw UCD snatch victory against Finn Harps on Friday night.

Just when it looked as if Adam McDaid’s dramatic 88th minute equaliser was enough to secure a point, there was still time for drama.

Adam Brennan was bundled over by Mikey Place and referee Alan Patchell pointed to the spot, deeming the foul to have been inside the area - much to the chagrin of the hosts.

Raggett slammed past Oisin Cooney from the penalty to give UCD - managed by Buncrana native and former Finn Harps coach William O’Connor - the win.

McDaid’s first senior goal had seemed to have rescued a point for Kevin McHugh’s Harps. The 18-year-old was only just in on the action when he pounced to net his first senior goal.

Harps trailed to Ciaran Behan’s superb free kick late in the first half when McDaid came on as Joel Bradley Walsh was dispatched to take a free klick wide on the right-hand side. Bradley Walsh delivered dangerously and McDaid converted.

Within two minutes of the goal, McDaid turned provider, but Patrick Ferry was narrowly wide with the shot and UCD would eke the win thanks to Raggett’s heroics.

On 38 minutes, Behan curled home from 20 yards for his first goal of the season. After Aaron McLaughlin was deemed to have fouled Sean Brennan, Behan’s effort flew over the Harps wall and past the reach of ‘keeper Cooney. It was the first shot on goal for UCD - but it helped them to lead at the interval.

But for the offside flag of Darren Corcoran, Cathal McCarty would have doubled the lead right on the blow of Patchell’s half-time whistle. McCarty was deemed to have strayed behind the Harps defensive line as he flicked home at the far post.

A reprieve, then, for Harps as they headed for the refreshments.

Teenage net-minder Cooney and fledgling midfielder Gavin McAteer have been attracting cross-channel eyes over the last year.

Former Northern Ireland international and now Cliftonville manager Jim Magilton was among the attendance - officially listed as 818 - alongside scouts bearing the badges of Nottingham Forest, Crystal Palace and Brighton. Ex-Harps midfielder Tom Mohan, the Republic of Ireland Under-19 manager, was also present.

Nine minutes into the second half, McAteer fashioned a chance for Gavin Hodgins, but he fired narrowly wide from the edge of the penalty box.

Harps might have taken the lead in the 20th minute when Gradi Lomboto found himself with a chance on the edge of the area. Lomboto, having been on the end of a long ball, shot at ‘keeper Dara Kavanagh.

Four minutes later, Mikey Place - who had to sit out last weekend’s scoreless draw at Longford due to his wedding - was denied in a crowded penalty area by experienced UCD skipper Ronan Finn while Gavin Hodgins saw an effort well blocked seconds earlier.

Harps, who had won just once in their last eight, were dealt a major blow in the week leading up to the game with confirmation that veteran midfielder David Cawley - who recently made his 400th League of Ireland appearance - had left the club, citing family commitments.

McHugh was abler to welcome Max Hutchison and Mikey Place back into the starting line-up with Kevin Jordan and William Oduwa dropping to the bench.

UCD have been something of a bogey team for Harps in recent years. You had to flick the calendar all the way back to October 2015 and a 2-1 win at Finn Park in the First Division play-off second leg for Harps’ last victory over UCD. Tony McNamee was the sole survivor from that side, which also featured McHugh in the Harps attack. 

Harps, who threw on Patrick Ferry and Gavin Gilmore on the hour, pushed hard to get a leveller. 

Bradley-Walsh was denied after being deemed to have fouled Kavanagh as he went to meet a Gilmore cross 20 minutes from the end.  As the game headed into its final 10 minutes, Bradley Walsh forced Kavanagh into a fine save from a powerful long-range effort. It was an effort that stung the UCD goalkeeper’s palms and called the home crowd into action all at once, 

UCD arrived in Ballybofey on a wretched run of results. The Students came to Donegal on the back of a heavy 4-0 loss at Treaty United the weekend previously and had won twice in nine outings.

Late in the night, Raggett stepped up to bag the winner - and open up a five-point gap to Harps in seventh.

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Finn Harps: Oisin Cooney; Mikey Place, Max Hutchison, Joel Bradley Walsh, Joel Thompson (Adam McDaid 88); Tony McNamee, Josh Cullen (Shaunie Bradley 80); Aaron McLaughlin (Patrick Ferry 60), Gavin McAteer (Kevin Jordan 90), Gradi Lomboto (Gavin Gilmore 60); Gavin Hodgins. 

UCD: Dara Kavanagh; Luke O’Regan (Killian Cailloce 60), Cathal McCarty, Adam Wells; Ronan Finn, Sean Brennan (Carl Lennox 90+6); Ciaran Behan, Michael McCullagh (Adam Verdon 52), Sam Norval (Adam Brennan 82); Jake Doyle (Michael Raggett 82).

Referee: Alan Patchell.