Doherty on the spot to ensure City take a point at Harps

THREE IN TWO: Jack Doherty of Cork City in action. Pic: Brendan Moran, Sportsfile

Finn Harps 1 (Edogun 17) Cork City 1 (Doherty 70 pen) 

Jack Doherty netted his third goal of the campaign as Cork City and Finn Harps shared the spoils in Ballybofey on Friday night. 

Success Edogun pounced on a Sean Murray mishap in the first-half while Doherty scored from the spot midway through the second-half.

The hosts bagged the first goal of this game - the first meeting between the pair in four years - with 17 minutes gone as Harps pounced on a mistake from the visitors. 

Murray looked to play the ball back to Bradley Wade but a tame connection allowed Success Edogun to react and place the ball beyond the shot-stopper from 35 yards for his second of the campaign.

Tony McNamee and Patrick Ferry had opportunities to double that Harps advantage but both efforts sailed over the crossbar.

Tim Clancy made three changes to his side that triumphed over Kerry FC while the hosts had one enforced alteration due to an injury to Aaron McLaughlin last week.

Jack Doherty found the net twice in game week one but had slim pickings in the first-half of this encounter against Darren Murphy's side.

Harry Nevin’s shot was routinely saved by Tim-Oliver Heimer towards the end of the first-half while a couple more set-piece deliveries tested the rearguard of those in blue and white.

Cork were the first to have a pop at goal during the opening minutes of the second-half and it required some solid defensive action from the home side. 

Evan McLaughlin had not one but two shots blocked by Noe Baba while Barry Coffey had an effort from the edge of the area thwarted by Matthew Makinson.

Harps had two big opportunities to double their lead, one before the hour and one after with Edogun on the end of both. His first was skied but the second should have been goal number three for the striker. 

Played through by Ferry, he was one-on-one but at an angle and you could see his frustration at his effort brushed the side netting.

With just shy of 20 minutes to go, Cork were level via a spot-kick after Makinson handled the ball in the area. Jack Doherty stepped up and placed his penalty into the bottom right corner.

Harps had a few moments in the final stages to restore their lead but found Wade equal to a free kick from McNamee and a strong header from Makinson.

Finn Harps: Tim-Oliver Heimer; Jamie Watson, Matthew Makinson, Noe Baba, Shane McMonagle; Max Hutchison, Stephen Doherty (Darragh Coyle 82), David Cawley, Tony McNamee; Patrick Ferry (Mark Mbuli 67), Success Edogun.

Cork City: Bradley Wade; Harry Nevin, Cian Coleman, Charlie Lyons, John O'Donovan; Jack Doherty, Evan McLaughlin (Jaden Umeh 75), Sean Murray, Barry Coffey, Niall Brookwell (Cathal O'Sullivan ht); Nathan Wood.

Referee: Marc Lynch