Longford Town let victory slip as Finn Harps snatch draw in dramatic finish

Longford Town FC will be wondering how they managed to let a vital victory slip from their grasp in the First Division league clash at Finn Park in Ballybofey on Friday night.

Finn Harps . . . 2 Longford Town . . . 2

Harps appeared to be heading for a home defeat when the visitors, after dominating most of the first half, took control on the changeover with goals from Andy Paraschiv and Stefan Ugbesia and had chances to score again before Harps staged a remarkable revival in a dramatic finish.

The Donegal side were given a glimmer of hope in the 88th minute when substitute Aaron McLaughlin found the back of the Longford net after connecting with a cross from Alex Fanle.

Then came the fairytale finale in the second minute of stoppage time when 16-year-old Odhran McHugh scored his first senior goal to rescue a point for Finn Harps.

McHugh, son of the Harps manager Kevin McHugh - who scored 186 goals for the Donegal club - came off the bench to snatch a draw for the delighted home side and becoming the club’s youngest ever scorer in the process.

It was a cruel blow for Longford Town who looked poised to collect all three points in their push for a place in the promotion play-offs but Wayne Groves side can get back on track with a win over bottom of the table Treaty United at Bishopsgate on Friday night next.

Longford took the lead in the 56th minute when Paraschiv applied a finish from close range. The 19-year-old was denied by a decent save from Harps ‘keeper Lorenzo Piaia. The follow-up from Stefan Ugbesia looked as if it might creep in at the far post, but Paraschiv made sure.

Just 10 minutes later, Ugbesia doubled the lead. He won possession in the middle of the park before getting past a robust challenge by Joel Bradley Walsh and then took aim with the ball ending up in the back of the net.

Harps were without the injured Conor Tourish with Irish underage international Josh Cullen serving a suspension due to accumulated yellow cards.

Monteiro fired wide in the early stages and, at the other end, Sean Moore sliced at an attempt having been fed by Andy Paraschiv.

De Lacerda might have broken the deadlock in the 37th minute, but the Portuguese defender glanced his header wide after rising to connect with a Bradley Walsh corner.

Longford came to the north west a point ahead of Harps in the table with Harps having posted just two wins in their previous nine games in the First Division.

The midlanders might have hit the front six minutes before the break. After cutting in from the left-hand side, Jake Hough spotted an opening and took aim at the top corner. Hough’s attempt curled narrowly wide, much to the relief of the sparse home crowd.

The relief was short-lived, however, as Longford struck twice to leave Harps with a mountain to climb.

It might have been an ever steeper ascent, but Piaia thwarted substitute Francis Campbell, who seemed set to add a third for the away side.

Bradley Walsh hooked off the line from Paraschiv to spare the blushes further with 10 minutes left on the clock.

At the other end, Bradley Walsh headed just over and it seemed as if Harps were on their way to defeat.

McLaughlin cut the deficit and as Longford failed to clear a set-piece, McHugh wheeled away as the last-gasp hero.

FINN HARPS: Lorenzo Piaia; Daniel De Lacerda, Max Hutchison (Darragh Coyle 80), Joel Bradley Walsh, Alex Fanle; Oran Brogan, Tony McNamee; Bernardo Monteiro (Odhran McHugh 69), Gavin McAteer, Temi Ajibola (Shaunie Bradley 69); Nathan Lumingo (Aaron McLaughlin 53).

LONGFORD TOWN: Kian Moore; Osaze Irhue, Jamie Egan, Taylor McCarthy, Jake Hough; Alex O’Brien, Sean Moore; Stefan Ugbesia (Francis Campbell), Andy Paraschiv (Daniel McKenna 80), Daragh Murtagh; Dean Williams (Aaron Walsh 80).

Referee: Oliver Moran.