Finn Harps Thread

overshoot

made it to 10 unbeaten lastnight with a 2-2 down in wexford. big hurdle to get over in the search for 4th. 2-2... should have won according to extratime but by the sounds of it they felt the 6hr drive in patches. they are giving their all on the pitch so cant ask for more. promotion chasing waterford this weekend, young maguire in their ranks who wont be in loi for long.

u19s a few unbeaten now too, 1-1 in drogheada this weekend and 1-1 v double winners cork last week. that cork side also has 8 internationals and only 4 underage next year compared to harps' 4 overage! futures bright

overshoot

Another season drawn to a close then. Dissapointing 5th place overall but plenty since felix left to suggest it can go forwards. the change in attitude around the club since felix left can be seen hugely in the results. While he may have somewhat been right in saying the club is lucky to still be around, living within our means, most other clubs in D1 are on similar budgets and sucess still should have been the aim, not survival and mediocraty.

Pizza and Wizzy have completly revamped the team and if the season started where they took over we would have been right up there in the promotion battle. Unfortunately its not how it works but its good to know that the potential is there to be competative and consistantly so with the 10game unbeaten run, our longest since our last promotion. Without big spenders Limerick and (what current form would suggest will be) waterford in the division next year that will leave Longford (who we beat 3 times out of 4) & depending how (and if) dundalk handle the drop given there woes, it could leave us our best chance for promotion in years. (always nice to remember sligo finished 7th the year before their promotion in 2005)

the management team, young Cathal McDaid, Paul McVeigh are signed up for next year and Ciaran Coll, James Doherty and Gary Merritt all have signed up for the next 2 (not one of them saw the 80s and already have plenty of first team experience... coll (barring injuries) will hit 100 appearances in the first half of next season, great commitment as he definately had other options). Cant really see wizzy, mcHugh, Gallagher, or Cowan going anywhere either. if Curtis and O'Donnell return after missing most of the season with injuries there is a good spine there. The LYIT scholarship will also be in place for next season which should also help keep our young prospects. whether mcBride should be kept is another question... undoubted talent but a constant timebomb...

Finally congrats to Kevin McHugh, who in his testimonial year lands top scorer in the division... where would we be without him!

Onwards and upwards... lets just hope the FAI get of their rear ends do a bit of restructuring and the few teams who have been knocking at the door for years now can join the league. while i favoured 1 tier next year, the LOI needs to expand long term and there are clubs willing

ootbitb

nit piking maybe but Doherty born 1988 and Wex youths striker top scorer in Div1 after hat trick last match.

good post though:D

harpstilidie

ootbitb wrote: »

nit piking maybe but Doherty born 1988 and Wex youths striker top scorer in Div1 after hat trick last match.

good post though:D

The Wexford striker Danny Furlong only got credited 2 goals in the end up so himself, Sean Maguire and McHugh finished joint top scorers.

overshoot

ootbitb wrote: »

nit piking maybe but Doherty born 1988 and Wex youths striker top scorer in Div1 after hat trick last match.

good post though:D

crap overlooked doc... when flicking back thru the names...well he still has lots of years in the tank! and harpstilidie got ya on the second part! malone got accredited one of furlong's goals yesterday,
just the one mess up then!

and just to say not all the football has ended, the u19s play bottom of the league Bohs on saturday in Finn Park at 2

overshoot

Though id give a shout here to say Kevin McHugh's testimonial is on Friday the 23rd with a dinner dance the next day in the radission also doubling as the clubs awards night. tickets 25e

the "Battle of the Hills" will be a Harps XI v a donegal gaa select with one half soccer one half gaelic and proceeds split between the testimonial fund and the donegal training fund. a good few donegal players have turned out for various harps teams and still play for other clubs and a few harpers play too with Doc coming on for termon in the intermediate county final. so should be a good craic either way.

McHugh is a nothing other than a legend and our second highest ever goal scorer, currently 9th in the all time LOI charts with 155 league goals, 7 next season will see him up to 5th, barring injury D1's joint top scorer should be well capable. Made his debut at 17 and now completed 10 years in a harps jersey (plus a few at the defunct derry city and linfield) dont think he will be fit to hunt down our own brendan bradley though, who sits well clear at the top on 235.

Tickets: seats 12e, Adult terrace 10, child 5. should be a good nights craic, list of places selling them in the battle of the hills link above

unconfirmed but hear a few other harps legends could be back too like Declan Boyle/Mino/Shane Bradley/James Gall, also Stephen mc Laughlin/Farren/Deery/Molloy/Higgins from the muckers although some have done their time. mcLaughlin could well be off to engerland soon so one last chance for a real look

NIMAN

Stephen McLaughlin heading over to Nottingham Forest for a trial.

Fair play to the lad, has been excellent for us since he arrived. Deserves his shot at it in England.

harpstilidie

NIMAN wrote: »

Stephen McLaughlin heading over to Nottingham Forest for a trial.

Fair play to the lad, has been excellent for us since he arrived. Deserves his shot at it in England.

Top player, definitely good enough to play at Championship level at least. And if he moves Harps will get some money as well. Win-win!

NIMAN

Yeah you have a % sell on clause, which is always fair enough in these situations.

If he does go, lets hope we both get plenty, eh!

He will be missed if he does go. After McClean left last year he was one of those flair players that still brought fans to the games.

overshoot

yea he will be sorely missed, made a serious contribution to derry this year and produced some spectacular stuff. he will be very hard to replace, hows derrys squad going actually? havnt seen anything really on who resigned or not

rmchmufc

Good luck to the lad. Another name to look out for if all goes well for him

rmchmufc

hows derrys squad going actually? havnt seen anything really on who resigned or not[/QUOTE]

Simon Madden has resigned for them according the MNS twitter feed

overshoot

aye just saw that, extratime just updated their transfer list... madden is the only one marked under derry who look shockingly quiet following shams on the list who have probably signed/released more than everyone else combined!
also liking that harps are the only d1 team showing signs of life:)
although i know wexford have lost furlong to cork... one less problem for next year! (edit-actually shown in corks transfers)

guttenberg

Hopefully i'll be able to get to the match. Should be good craic seeing Harps getting beat by a team of goalkeepers:pac:

overshoot

good nights craic in fairness, crowd of maybe 1000 had hoped for more but considering its double the years average attendance quite good all the same.

the assiciation football half finished 1-1, adrian hanlon with a superb free kick to open it before mcgowan levelled it. mcveigh missed a glorious chance for harps too who should have won the half. donegal probably only with 2 meaningfull attacks and most of it was played in the donegal half, although harps didnt create too may clear goalscoring chances with ex harper Boyle looking quite assured in the donegal goal

half time brought out the cable ties and some higher posts, as well as 2 extra players. harps had kept their noses a point ahead until stephen griffin got a goal to make to give donegal the lead. donegal never game it back although harps smahed one of the underside of the crossbar which i think would have levelled or given them a one point lead at that stage. james gallagher was the harps keeper for the gaelic half and is still a class act with some great saves. final score was something like 3-7 or 8 to 1-9 (they didnt announce it at the end)
harps i must admit were suprisingly good at the football although i got the impression both teams took it slightly easier when playing their own code.

anyway here was the team sheet, rita mino still look good too. more match pics here

muffler

Sorry overshoot but I had to remove a couple of the pics as they are coprighted.

overshoot

damn that law is strict! thought once you credited them (as in link and his big c and name across em) they were ok? meh the ablum is still linked anyway if anyone wants a look, sorry bout the extra work muffler

muffler

overshoot wrote: »

damn that law is strict! thought once you credited them (as in link and his big c and name across em) they were ok? meh the ablum is still linked anyway if anyone wants a look, sorry bout the extra work muffler

No problem overshoot.

This is something that cropped up several years ago (may have been in the Donegal pics thread???) when someone contacted Boards HQ about copyright on their photos being breached and the word came down the line that we cant allow anything thats marked copyright or even credited save with the consent of the owner/author.

For all we know Gerard McHugh could be fine with it but unless we have it from him directly we cant allow Im afraid. But the link is still there to his facebook page so that's fine.

overshoot

may as well post an update here
Five more signed up for next year, decent looking first XI for this time of year, usually it doesnt exist!

Goalkeepers:
Ciaran Gallagher (who will hit 100caps this year at the age of 21!)

Defenders:
James Doherty
Ciaran Coll
Keith Cowan
Thomas McMonagle

Midfielders:
Aaron O'Hagan
Gary Merritt
Shaun McGowan
Thomas McBride
Michael Funston

Attackers:
Paul McVeigh
Jordan Duffy
Kevin McHugh

think i saw stephen o'donnell doing pre season work too and hopes to be back for full training after his injury... seen matt harkin mentioned too

few things from the sgm last week too;

•Club took in approx €320k so far in 2012, which was €10k more than they budget for(Which is pretty amazing in the current climate)

•Expenditure not fully complete yet but looks to be on target and all wages and bills have been paid to date (proper agm in the new year but the sgm in there to get the board appointments in now)

•Club looking to increase wage budget next season to try and get out of the 1st Div. News on squad and potential target to come out in new year

Re the new stadium
•3rd payment of funds made to McMenimans from the government earlier this year, there has been lots of behind scenes work happening. Not much on site work there has been a hold up with what is deemed sufficient parking space for the stadium.
•Next stage of development is laying founds of 2nd stand and fencing off the site, its hoped this will start in early new year

all looks good compared to the recent past!

overshoot

squad as it stands now
Goalkeepers:
Ciaran Gallagher
Rory Kelly*

Defenders:
James Doherty
Ciaran Coll
Keith Cowan
Thomas McMonagle
Damien McNulty (cb)(coleraine & limavady)
Sean Reilly (lb or lm)*

Midfielders:
Aaron O'Hagan
Gary Merritt
Shaun McGowan
Thomas McBride
Michael Funston
Stephen O'Donnell*
Tommy Bonner
Matt Harkin

Attackers:
Paul McVeigh
Jordan Duffy
Kevin McHugh

also been training with the club
Gareth Breslin (rb), Jonny Bonner (cm/lb), Sean McCarron (fw), Michael Doherty (lm), Mark Forker
*they tweeted they signed, nothing from harps yet

if we get mccarron in there id be happy upfront (if he keeps his head). johnny bonner has had some good reviews too.

preseason friendlys so far has been a 3-0 win v erne wanderers and a 10-0 win v gleneely with one called of with a waterlogged pitch. derry & dundalk friendlys also lined up closer to the start of the season

away to waterford first up on the 8 or 9th of may then (ea cup, then) home to cobh and longford in the league which will give us a good idea of where we are from the start. home games back to fridays too

nigeldinho

Most certainly looking forward to the new season. This could be enjoyable, as will the trip to Waterford, as always.

harpstilidie

overshoot wrote: »

squad as it stands now
Goalkeepers:
Ciaran Gallagher
Rory Kelly*

Defenders:
James Doherty
Ciaran Coll
Keith Cowan
Thomas McMonagle
Damien McNulty (cb)(coleraine & limavady)
Sean Reilly (lb or lm)*

Midfielders:
Aaron O'Hagan
Gary Merritt
Shaun McGowan
Thomas McBride
Michael Funston
Stephen O'Donnell*
Tommy Bonner
Matt Harkin

Attackers:
Paul McVeigh
Jordan Duffy
Kevin McHugh

also been training with the club
Gareth Breslin (rb), Jonny Bonner (cm/lb), Sean McCarron (fw), Michael Doherty (lm), Mark Forker
*they tweeted they signed, nothing from harps yet

if we get mccarron in there id be happy upfront (if he keeps his head). johnny bonner has had some good reviews too.

preseason friendlys so far has been a 3-0 win v erne wanderers and a 10-0 win v gleneely with one called of with a waterlogged pitch. derry & dundalk friendlys also lined up closer to the start of the season

away to waterford first up on the 8 or 9th of may then (ea cup, then) home to cobh and longford in the league which will give us a good idea of where we are from the start. home games back to fridays too

Think you mean March there. I certainly hope it isn't May anyway! the wait is already too long

overshoot

harpstilidie wrote: »

Think you mean March there. I certainly hope it isn't May anyway! the wait is already too long

lets just ignore that mistake... definitely been long enough!

if id waited another day or 2 there was an official announcement for the LOI and USL squad

ctrl c & v is easier than editing my last post... 28 signed up so far

Ciaran Gallagher
Rory Kelly
Shaun Patton

Gareth Breslin
Thomas McMonagle
Ciaran Coll
James Doherty
Damien McNulty
Josh Mailey
Keith Cowan


Aaron O'Hagan
Hugh Carlin
Michael Funston
Gary Merritt
Mark Forker
Matt Harkin
Tommy McBride
Jonny Bonner
Sean Reilly
Sean McGowan
Tommy Bonner
Micheal Doherty
Cathal McDaid


Sean McCarron
Kevin McHugh
Paul McVeigh
Stephen O'Donnell
Jordan Duffy
Blain Curtis

i reckon i can pick our 4 defenders but really struggling to pick a midfield

overshoot

having a stormer so far in pre season, just gone full time in oriel park and harps have won 2-0... and dundalk are expected to be top half of the premier this year. McHugh with both

Line up
Ciaran Gallagher
Matt Crossan Damien McNulty Keith Cowan Tommy McMonagle
Mickey Funston Sean McGowan Tommy McBride Aaron O'Hagan Ciaran Coll
Kevin McHugh

Subs:
Shaun Patton Josh Mailey Jordy Duffy Mark Forker Johnny Bonner Sean McCarron Paul McVeigh Matt Harkin

So far
3-0 v Erne wanderers (Michéal Doherty (2) and Sean McCarron)
10-0 v Gleneely Colts (junior side) T Bonner (2), McBride (2), Funsty (2), Harkin, Curtis, M Doherty, McQ
Enniskillen Town cancelled due to waterlogged pitch
Inishowen Oscar Traynor 0-0
Cockhill 3-2 (harkin, duffy, mcmonagle &ex harper garbhan friel with cockhill's)
Dergview 6-1 McHugh 2, McCrossan 2, Hagey and McVeigh
Dundalk 2-0 McHugh 2

Played 6, scored 24, conceeded 3

Fixtures set so far
Saturday 16th Sligo Rovers in the Showgrounds
Sunday 17th Letterkenny Rovers in the Aura (seen it mentioned not 100%)
Sunday 24th Derry City, Finn Park in the JJ Reid Motors Trophy

damn this pre season optimism:pac:

rightyabe

Any word on when there is going to be just one 16/18 or 20 team league. Or has there ever been talk of a all-ireland league instead of a NI and Ireland league?

muffler

rightyabe wrote: »

Any word on when there is going to be just one 16/18 or 20 team league. Or has there ever been talk of a all-ireland league instead of a NI and Ireland league?

That would be better posted in the soccer forum.

overshoot

muffler wrote: »

That would be better posted in the soccer forum.

ah in fairness it would have a big effect on harps given where we often end up... well the league format in general is always going to affect us

Was big talk of 1 division this year & proper negotiations after the loss of mons, salthill looked very dodgy, as did dundalk but in the end the latter 2 survived and cobh returned so they kept the same set up.
The Dublin teams were very against it, especially shams, but then half their games are against Dublin clubs which makes life easy for them
Waterford threatened to withdraw from the league if 1 tied didn't happen but turned out to be a bluff.

Personally id love a 16 team premier and an a championship style divion below it, league needs to expand but its impossible with the entry costs.

As much as I wasnt happy with the outcome d1 could be a cracker this year. Longford & Waterford up there again, athlone have a bit of money behind them Wexford pushing on and ourselves... Its going to be an absolute dogfight!

edit just noticed the All ireland part, that wont happen, the leagues would lose the european places they have now, they wouldnt be allowed combine them... plus i dont know how rosy things are with the fai & ifa, newry (newco) looked to join the league but in the interest of friendship they were told they need the ifa's permission and nothing happened

Carrickman

Good weather predicted for Sunday as Finn Harps take on cup winners Derry City in the JJ Reid Motors trophy. Following last weeks draw against League champions Sligo Rovers, can Harps maintain their unbeaten run in pre-season? Tickets €7 and u12s free. KO 2.30 PM in Finn Park.
Linky

rightyabe

Is there any website where you can buy a Harps jersey or jacket. Or is McElinhineys or the club shop the only 2 places you can buy them?

overshoot

rightyabe wrote: »

Is there any website where you can buy a Harps jersey or jacket. Or is McElinhineys or the club shop the only 2 places you can buy them?

hard to get much right now unfortunately. Macroon are the new suppliers and the jersey hasn't been released, I suppose cos the sponser was changing. maybe they will release the 2 together? id say all the azzurri stock is gone.
In fairness tho the training gear looks nice So hopefully there will b a good kit