Finn Harps Thread

overshoot

perspective maybe?
4 tough games in 11 days against full time opposition, the last 2 with with c4times our club's budget.
small, part time squad, carrying a few injuries and having work on top of training to take away recovery time. Didnt fill the bench tonight.
Dundalk miles ahead of any other side in the league let alone harps and put 8 past Bray last year. They had scored 17 away and conceeded 2 in the 6 away games before us (the 2 conceeded in the first 2 games)

there may have been room for a little more squad rotation but may have just shipped a few less goals at best. We got hit in the worst way possible by a mix of better opposition and small. part time squad. We recover and move on. Thank feck its Crumlin at the weekend, i had thought shams previously. Couldnt give a crap about the cups!

NIMAN

You seem to be saving all your best performances for games v Derry !!

AidySevenfold

Not good at all. Defence is our strength and what can and has won a lot of our points so far but the lads are just exhausted.

I'm not sure what Micky Funston has done to Ollie but he is good enough to play from the start and give some of the others a rest. McHugh too.

I would like to beat Crumlin, given that if they beat us the lads could lose all hope, not writing crumlin off though but hopefully they did some partying after beating LK Rovers.

Would like to see something like this

Brush

Boyle McConnell McMonagle Coll

Funston McNamee Coyle (u19) Flatley

McHugh Banda(u19)

could be worth throwing in an U-19 or 2 for it as well, maybe Mark Coyle in the middle and Banda up top. Not sure if banda will be available as he got s/o v Longford 19s at the weekend.

Looking at the squad with injuries that's probably all we can do. Needs to give Cowan, Mailey, McNulty, Houston, Molloy and Curran a rest for sure. Hanlon and Scully also..

overshoot

so our bad run lasted 8 days....

nigeldinho

overshoot wrote: »

so our bad run lasted 8 days....

It was great to see us change things up a bit today. Few personnel changes, formation change, and a big change in attitude. Really shows across the pitch when the players play with that bit more confidence. Great result.

overshoot

Now the form team in the league over the last 4 games with 10pts. DWWW (7goals for 1 against)
Joint 5th on 23pts with Galway, Pats & Sligo. The rest of this round of fixtures sees games against 3 teams below us and Cork so a chance for further points. Cork (Friday 22nd) & Wexford (Fri 29th) the 2 home games although Cork may be moved with European football. Away to Bray & Bohs either side of that.
A few results in those games would really close off any lingering relegation threat but as it stands we have 15pts to Longford, 11 to Wexford and 10 to Bray with 15 games to go.

On another note... Ruairi Keating back to add to our attacking options!... Its strange having things go so well...

nigeldinho

Things are indeed going eerily well. It's bloody fantastic. Compare it to our last two seasons in the Premier and it makes for very interesting reading.

---

P--W--D--L--F--A---GD---Pts
2016: 18--6--5-07-17-27-(-10)-23
2008: 33--9--4-20-26-53-(-27)-31
2005: 33--5--6-22-30-51-(-21)-21

We've already surpassed 2005, and we're well on the way to surpassing 2008, where we were desperately unlucky to be relegated in 10th place with league re-structuring and two defeats in the last two games against Galway and Shamrock Rovers.

But, to be only 8 points off that 2008 total in only 18 games is nothing short of magnificent given the difference in budget between the two years. A full time professional side that year, compared to players getting absolute pittance this season. Ollie Horgan deserves a damn freedom of Donegal award at this stage for the miracles he's worked at Harps.

Paul Hegarty is an astute appointment as assistant too. Already clear against Galway the input he has in attacking terms. Combine Ollies ability to get 100% work-rate, a solid defensive performance, and committed players, with Higgsys all attack and possession football, and we could be in for an exciting final 15 games.

overshoot

nigeldinho wrote: »

---

P--W--D--L--F--A---GD---Pts
2016: 18--6--5-07-17-27-(-10)-23
2008: 33--9--4-20-26-53-(-27)-31
2005: 33--5--6-22-30-51-(-21)-21

Paul Hegarty is an astute appointment as assistant too. Already clear against Galway the input he has in attacking terms. Combine Ollies ability to get 100% work-rate, a solid defensive performance, and committed players, with Higgsys all attack and possession football, and we could be in for an exciting final 15 games.

its been huge for us that we have more often got something from a game than not. Even in our winless run (excl cup - lost one in 90, lost one on pens) we drew 4 out of 7. The defeats were Cork (a), Dundalk (h) & Pats (a), we drew away to Shams, Derry & Wexford, with home draw against bohs.

On the attacking... is Mr. McHugh not doing a bit of coaching too?

EAFC_rdfl

anyone in the county with any interest in football should be getting out to watch this team

AidySevenfold

Too many begrudgers in Donegal football, Harps doing well is killing some of them. Great strides made by FHFC on and off the field. They're involved in a lot of initiatives going in the county and there's now a great underage structure in place as well.

U19s and u17s unbeaten in 7 games each, Senior side pretty much almost safe at the halfway stage. Great times people.

nigeldinho

AidySevenfold wrote: »

Too many begrudgers in Donegal football, Harps doing well is killing some of them. Great strides made by FHFC on and off the field. They're involved in a lot of initiatives going in the county and there's now a great underage structure in place as well.

U19s and u17s unbeaten in 7 games each, Senior side pretty much almost safe at the halfway stage. Great times people.

The last time ANY Harps team were beaten in a league match was the seniors away to Pats on 17th May. We're two months without a league defeat at any level for Harps.

overshoot

Wexford in town tomorrow, they badly need a win to stave off relegation! Lose though and the gap is 8pts to wexford and looking over our shoulder rather than ahead.
A win for us would put 14pts to wexford with 13 games left. Longford a further 3 back. It would surely close of a relegation threat (bar a massive implosion/revival) and move us back joint 5th if sligo fail to win. A draw puts us ahead of St. Pats and into 7th.


Only the second home game since June 3rd (no wonder people wonder when games are on)
A decent crowd would be great!
Harps Preview

In other news exMan Utd u21 captain Ryan McConnell has signed up for next year and gone on loan to Ballinamallard for the rest of the season - hopefully he gets the game time he needs there! Liam Flatley moving permanently along with Dykes.

Mr_A

It's derby time again this Friday night. Will cause a bit of congestion and traffic disruption in Twin Towns. Match arrangements are here: http://www.finnharps.com/fhfc/?p=3479

nigeldinho

nigeldinho wrote: »

The last time ANY Harps team were beaten in a league match was the seniors away to Pats on 17th May. We're two months without a league defeat at any level for Harps.

Things tend to change fairly quickly.


In other news, taking bookings for overnight trip to Cork in October with all details in the link. Overnight trips with the Harps tend to be quite legendary. This one will be no different.

http://54crew.com/news/2016/9/5/overnight-trip-to-cork-october-1415

overshoot

at least that bad run has ended! 5 from 9 v Sligo with 2 of those away aint a bad return.... id like to think 2 more points would see us safe.

we may have to do it without Kevin Mchugh though...looks like his season and therefore career is probably over with a hand injury... 174 LOI goals has him 5th on the all-time list. Great servant to Harps!
for the non-squeamish have a look at his twitter

NIMAN

Awful, get well soon Kevin.

muffler

overshoot wrote: »

we may have to do it without Kevin Mchugh though...looks like his season and therefore career is probably over with a hand injury... 174 LOI goals has him 5th on the all-time list. Great servant to Harps!
for the non-squeamish have a look at his twitter

That's a nasty looking injury. What was he doing to sustain that?

Looks like he's actually driving that car and taking a "finger selfie". But it shouldn't really affect his football unless he has decided to back into goals or take up playing Gaelic football. If he's reasonable fit in a couple of months again I cant see a finger injury having any effect. Perhaps the auld career is over anyhow.

I wish him well though.

overshoot

caught his wedding ring on a fence is all iv heard... had to drive himself to hospital alright!
If it rules him out for a month its probably career over.... and id imagine he cant really risk contact. This was going to be his last year.

Mr_A

McHugh interview on the club site, some man. Awful way to end such a career though.

http://www.finnharps.com/fhfc/?p=3894

byte

An article on BBC NI about his accident too.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-foyle-west-37605354

Good enough result for Harps too tonight.

overshoot

they had one on the day of it too. Match of the Day posted both to their social media!
Providing nothing to play for against bohs wonder could kevin do the last 5mins?... if not... second testimonial?

Good result tonight, awful record against pats, barring a wexford miracle that should see us safe being 9pts ahead with 4 games left.
Great games all round, would (just) give Coll MOM on his 200th game. Houstons goal was a cracker, top scorer now for us.

howdoyouknow

Good result tonight. If the game hadn't stalled for Cowan's injury I think harps would have easily won it. They went to sleep and let a soft goal in. It took them along time to get back into the game but played there hearts out at the end. Curran put in a lot of work and deserved a goal

overshoot

Unconfirmed but saying Cowan may have done his cruciate ligament and broken his fibula... very nasty indeed if it is the case. Probably been the most consistent player all season!
Ollie has had his contract extended for next year also. Happy with that now the bad run has been turned around. He should have learned a lot from this year.

Pixel Eater

Just wondering what's the scéal with the new stadium? Haven't heard any updates on it for a while.

muffler

Pixel Eater wrote: »

Just wondering what's the scéal with the new stadium? Haven't heard any updates on it for a while.

There hasn't been anything happening for the last couple of years.

overshoot

Last game of the season tonight at home to bohs. Kev McHugh's last time as a member of the harps squad so it's send off time! Kick off is 7.45 not 8!

overshoot

Some decent, some crap ball last night in Finn Park. Bit of a friendly really. Although nice to sign off with a win in front of a good crowd. Curran took his goal well and we finish 9pts clear of the relegation spots after a bit of worrying! Himself and Houston finish joint top scorers for us with 7 each.

Barry Molloy played well as he signed off senior football. He was well overshadowed by the half time show as there was a club & fans presentation to McHugh 186 goals in 438 games for ourselves (plus whatever he got in his stints at Omagh, Derry & Linfield). 174 LOI goals has him 5th on the all time list. I think this year was a bit of a step too far for him and couldnt get the 4 more he needed to join Turlough O'Connor in 4th. Although he tended to be deployed in a deep role when he was on anyway.

Sean Houston took 54 crew and Dublin Supporters Club POTY, Ethan Boyle took YPOTY.

Nice to have premier football to look forward to again next year! Hopefully wexford survive too. Bit of work to the squad and a Keith Cowan shaped hole in defence to fill due to his horror injury v pats but im sure Ollie has already got to work!

overshoot

Squad slowly building for next year, apparently 4 or 5 full time slots up for grabs, 2 taken already. Would want to see Dee, McMonagle, Houston, Funston re-signed in particular. Keating with improved attitude, Maileys x2 (Altho doubt Josh can commit with UK college), Hanlon, Scully would be useful too. McNamee is gone unfortunately, Curran most likely too while he took his chances didn’t add too much elsewhere, Brush to Ballinamallard supposedly although Doherty seems highly rated.
Squad so far... With a few presumed u19s(*) who will most likely be senior next year:
Ciaran Gallagher,
Harry Doherty, (Cockhill, ex Charlton & Brighton)

Ciaran Coll,
Ryan McConnell,
Ethan Boyle, (full time)

Gareth Harkin,
Gareth Doherty,*
Daire O'Baoill,*

Danny Morrissey, (Cork)(full time)
BJ Banda,*
Declan Sharkey*

Link-New jersey announced too... Not sure on it personally... Three year deal with Joma. Altho i hear the fluorescent yellow strip may return! What do ye think?

retalivity

Saw the jersey earlier. It looks.......weird.

howdoyouknow

overshoot wrote:

.. Not sure on it personally... Three year deal with Joma. Altho i hear the fluorescent yellow strip may return! What do ye think?

No too sure on the sash jersey yet. The Harps will have to march out onto the pitch from now on might intimidate the opposition.

Good to see a change from legea, was very hard to get stock for the supporters shop from them.