Late drama at Finn Park as Finn Harps have earned back to back wins as they move level on points with UCD in 9th spot. It couldn't have been a worse start for Harps as they went a goal behind on four minutes, with Aaron Drinan putting the visitors i
Late drama at Finn Park as Finn Harps have earned back to back wins as they move level on points with UCD in 9th spot.
It couldn't have been a worse start for Harps as they went a goal behind on four minutes, with Aaron Drinan putting the visitors in the lead. Mikey Place levelled things up before giving his side the lead from the spot before the interval.
Damien Delaney made it all square approaching stoppage time and Sean Boyd scored in added time to seal the points for the hosts in dramatic fashion.
The spectators inside Finn Park witnessed a very quick start to the encounter, neither side had got into their groove but Waterford silenced the home crowd with a goal on four minutes.
Bastien Hery played a short pass to Cory Galvin who was loitering around the edge of the area and the latter played a short through ball to Aaron Drinan who took a touch before firing over the diving Peter Burke.
Injuries had wreaked havoc on the Harps' squad of late and they were dealt another blow as Youngster Michael Gallagher was stretchered off inside the opening ten minutes, replaced by Colm Deasy.
Mikey Place was a pivotal part of the hosts promotion group and banged in the leveller five minutes shy of the half hour.
After being fouled by Rory Feely on the edge of the area, he stepped up and roughly 20 yards out, he thumped the ball into the top right corner, Matt Connor got a hand to it but not enough to keep it out.
The visitors came close on two occasions not long after the equaliser, Drinan fired first but saw his half volley float into the gloves of Burke.
Hery came within inches moments after, curling an effort just wide of the right hand post with Burke beaten.
Harps then had the chance to take the lead from the spot with eight minutes to go in the half.
After Liam Walsh was fouled by Feely, Place stepped up and fired past Connor, who got nothing on the ball this time around as Harps took their lead into the break.
Harps set up well in the second half and limited their opposition to little efforts at goal with a number of those being blocked.
Harps themselves had limited opportunities to wrap things up as Ollie Horgan made an attacking chance, bringing on Nathan Boyle for Walsh.
Waterford found themselves a man down as the game entered its final stages, not on the field but Manager Alan Reynolds was sent to the stands for an altercation with Place on the sidelines.
The visitors have a habit of scoring late in games and they did just that in the 89th minute. Following intense pressure, that the hosts looked to have dealt with, Poynton whipped in a corner from the right, it was headed back across goal by Akinade and Damien Delaney was on hand to draw his side level.
The very late drama wasn't finished there though as the Ballybofey side stole the points in the 90th minute.
The lively Place ran at the defence, forcing them back before playing a short through ball into Sean Boyd who took a touch before slotting past Connor.
Seven minutes of added time made it a tense finish at Finn Park but the hosts held on for the second successive win that sees them move level on points with UCD.
