Gethins winner shatters Shels
Saturday 17th March 2007, 1:50 am
Conor Gethins, Finn Harps.
Photo by Tom Carey.
16th March 2007
eircom League of Ireland First Division
Finn Harps 2
Gordon Simms 13
Conor Gethins 90
Shelbourne 1
Davitt Walsh 66
Finn Park
The enormity of the task facing Shelbourne in 2007 may have become a little clearer on Friday night as the current league champions slipped to a dramatic injury time loss in the First Division - the sort of dramatic finish they became famous for clinching themselves.
Finn Harps were Shels' hosts and the win gives them a lift following their opening loss to Dundalk.
Gordon Simms, a new face at Harps, put them ahead inside the first fifteen minutes as he got in on the end of Chris Breen's cross before finishing well past Tony O'Dowd.
Davitt Walsh, who left Harps in the close season for a move to Bohemians before in turn a loan move to Shels, levelled the game on 66 minutes as he slotted home.
There was to be a twist in injury time when Gethins forced the ball home from close range to give Harps their first win of the year.
Finn Harps : Gallagher, Asokuh, Minnock, Boyle, Simms, Shields (McGowan 72), Funston, O'Loughlin, Parkhouse (Brown 64), Gethins, Breen (Brolly 56).
Shelbourne : O'Dowd, O'Reilly, Ryan, Rafferty, Gartland, Chambers, Mulhall (Moran 46), Harte, McKenna (Byrne 72), Walsh, McEniff.