McGee strike earns Athlone Town a point away to Harps

Noel McGee was sprung from the substitutes bench to earn Athlone Town a hard fought point against in-form Finn Harps at Ballybofey on Saturday night. Struggling with a hamstring problem, McGee was introduced to the fray with Athlone trailing 1-0 and only fifteen minutes remaining on the clock. But the 22-year-old pounced to score within three minutes of his introduction to end a three match losing streak for Athlone. McGee's goal also ended a run of nine games without a goal for the striker, who had experienced something of a goal drought since netting against Monaghan Utd in early May. It was also the perfect way to silence false rumours about his alleged departure from the club last week, after several posts on the club's website message board claimed McGee had fallen out with manager Brendan Place - rumours since put to bed by the Athlone manager. For their part, Finn Harps might have extended their unbeaten run in the league to six matches but there was palpable disappointment in Ballybofey that they dropped two points. Marc Brolly, who scored the winner in Finn Harps' recent friendly against Ipswich Town, returned to the home side having missed the previous league game against Sporting Fingal through suspension, and put Harps ahead in the 12th minute. Mark Forker managed to gain possession on the right hand side, the ball deflecting into his path after a Kevin Williamson clearance, and he pulled the ball back into the path of Brolly, who beat Alex O'Reilly with a crisp strike from 12 yards. Athlone had to field without captain Des Hope, who was serving a suspension, while Mick Byrne, who only recently debuted against Wexford Youths, was missing through injury. Brian Cleary, returning to Irish shores after representing Ireland at the World Student Games, and fellow defender Kevin Dunne, came into the side. Stephen Place was also back in the side after missing the Wexford match through suspension and he replaced McGee. Following the opening goal, the home side continued to keep good possession, but failed to find a second. In fact, they didn't really do much to threaten Alex O'Reilly in the Athlone goal. Athlone's cause had not been helped when Williamson was forced off injured after just 33 minutes, with David Tyrrell forced to revert to left back. Gary Murphy was brought on in Williamson's place and Athlone had to reshuffle their entire midfield as a result. Eight minutes before the break, Athlone probably should have levelled but Stephen Place fired a shot over the crossbar from six yards after he was fed by Robbie Benson. Harps were forced to plan without the influential midfielder Michael Funston, who was sent off in the FAI Cup loss at the hands of Galway United and had his one-game ban increased to three. Also absent was Sean Houston, who has been in fine form of late, but was suffering from a sore back. The Harps line-up included former Athlone Town captain Ian Rossiter. James Gallagher's team held their slender advantage until half-time and little changed after the break. Within a minute of the restart, a through ball from John Mernagh set Place away, but the alert Ciaran Gallagher scampered from his goal to avert the danger. Two minutes later, Gary Whoriskey found Fintan Bonner and he, in turn, played in Brolly, who had bother controlling an awkward ball, and that gave O'Reilly the chance to save, which he did competently. In general though, chances were few and far between. Then, on 75 minutes, Brolly was out of luck when his near post header was placed just wide of goal, when Whoriskey was the architect. Harps, despite not creating an awful lot, should really have put the matter to bed there and then. However, when substitute McGee, who was on the field less than three minutes, picked up the ball in opposition territory from Place's pass, there was no immediate challenge and he placed the ball past Gallagher. McGee almost found a winner for the Town but his late effort was cleared away from danger by a Harps defender, possibly, it must be said, with the use of an arm. Athlone have been the scourge of Harps in recent seasons. Last May, when Harps were in the Premier Division, the Midlanders belied their position at the bottom of the First Division to send Paul Hegarty's side out of the FAI Cup. The year before, they nicked a 1-1 draw in the penultimate game of the season when the RTÉ cameras rolled into Donegal - effectively a result that cost the Donegal club the Division One title. That run continued on Saturday night at an eerie Finn Park that could hear the roars from MacCumhaill Park across the road when Donegal pipped Derry by a point after extra-time in the All-Ireland football qualifiers. Even though this is a generally substandard Harps side and they have found the going tough for much of the season, a share of the spoils in Ballybofey is always viewed as a decent outcome for any visitors. At time of print, Athlone were due to continue the league campaign at home to Longford Town on Tuesday evening before hosting Shelbourne at Lissywoollen on Saturday. Finn Harps: Ciaran Gallagher; Ian Rossiter, Seamus Sharkey, Packie Mailey, Ciaran Coll; Mark Forker, Paddy Bonner, Shaun McGowan, Gary Whoriskey; Marc Brolly, Fintan Bonner. Subs: Mark Moran for Forker (71 mins); Oisín McMenamin for F. Bonner (84). Athlone Town: Alex O'Reilly; Robbie Hamm, Kevin Dunne, Brian Cleary, Kevin Williamson; Kieran O'Reilly, Damien Rushe, John Mernagh, David Tyrell; Robbie Benson, Stephen Place. Subs: Gary Murphy for Williamson (33 mins); Noel McGee for Mernagh (75); Anthony Hayes for O'Reilly (83). Referee: Darren Coombes.