Harps hang on in battle of basement dwellers

Finn Harps 2 Banda 51, Baba 62 Kerry FC 1 Kelliher 48 

Finn Harps interim manager Darren Murphy saw his side come from behind to bag the points in the meeting of the bottom two in the First Division at Finn Park.

Harps went into the game having taken some heart from a spirited performance in the 1-0 defeat away to First Division champions Galway United on Monday evening.

Murphy stuck with the same team for this encounter as Harps, with only two home league wins all season, sought to bring some cheer to the Finn Park faithful.

The Kerry line-up included Daniel Okwute - who had started the season with Harps on loan from Stockport County - and he had the first chance of note in the game, shooting wide following a good move after nine minutes.

Harps had to wait until the 15th minute before they first worried Kerry with the inspirational Ryan Flood letting fly with a thundering 20 yard that took a deflection with Patrick Ferry lurking menacingly but just failing to connect.

Flood was involved again on 40 minute with another long-range pot on goal that wasn’t far wide but it was Kerry who went closest to breaking the deadlock in a low-key first half when Ryan Kelliher advanced in on goal only to shoot over as Antonio Tuta advanced off his line to narrow the angle.

But three minutes into the second half, Kelliher struck to give the visitors the lead as he latched onto an Okwute cross.

The joy for the men from the Kingdom was short lived, however, as Harps responded almost immediately as BJ Banda rose to meet a Tony McNamee free with a glancing header on 51 minutes.

And the success-starved home fans were in good voice again in the 62nd minute as Noe Baba - who came on as a substitute after the break - scored only his second