Harps win annual challenge game

The game was delayed at the start as Lurgan Celtic double booked this date, but the game did get under way near schedule as Harps Dermy Kearney, Stevie Shanks, Mark Campbell and Seamy Casey pulled Celtic out by wearing the green and white hoops.

Harps took the lead 20 minutes into the first half. Terry Magee passed to Michael Halls and he crossed for Mark McMahon to make it 1-0 with a header at the far post.

Celtic hit back almost immediately when John Campbell scored from inside the box for a deserved equaliser.

Barry McCarroll and Terry Magee wasted chances to put Harps into the lead and Kevin O'Hagan did well in goal as he kept Celtic out with the help of a post as the half progressed.

Harps did go into the interval with the lead. Michaels Halls was taken down in the box and the Taghnevan midfielder converted the penalty to make it 2-1.

Celtic started better in the second half as Marty Heaney, Dermy Kearney and Marty Rodgers kept the ball off the Harps players and with the experience of John Campbell, Gary Haire and Stephen Maguiness also chipping in, frustration crept into the Harps side.

Magee and McCarroll missed more chances to increase the lead and were made to pay as Stevie Maguiness raced forward to net an equaliser to level at 2-2.

O'Hagan tipped a long range effort over as Celtic got on top and defenders Eagers, Reynolds, O'Neill and Haddock did well to keep the scores level. Harps did break forward again and it was McMahon again that won it for Harps, his deflected shot from the edge of box creeping in at the near post.

It was a good run out for Dwyer Laverys team and the Harps team over-all. The club would like to thank referee Marty Larkin, Kevin Magee of Lurgan Celtic and those from the Harps who organised the game.

Taghnevan Harps: Kevin O'Hagan, Jerome Eagers, Emmet O'Neill, Mick Haddock, Rory Reynolds, Barry McCarroll, Kevin Sheedy, Michael Halls, Paul Ruddy, Terry Magee, Mark McMahon.

Lurgan Celtic: Conor Magee, Seamy Casey, Marty Rodgers, Dermy Kearney, Marty Heaney, Jason Rodgers, John Campbell, Gary Haire, Stevie Shanks, Mark Campbell, Stevie Maguiness. (Subs: Barry King, Micky Maguire, Gary Maguiness, Niall Lavery)