Finn Harps

[ForzaForth]

Reasonably close game in Ferrycarrig tonight but always being shaded by the Harps who always looked the more likelier to score and eventually did from, as expected, a set-piece. Two factors were immediately obvious from the start - Harps are a very big side this year and the Ferrycarrig pitch is now so hard, even though sanded, that it has the bounce of a bad plastic pitch. Youths went with Graham, Craig McC., Lee, Gary, Jimmy, Craig W., Jonny, Conor E., Conor W., Danny and Eric but missing the vital Rocks Keenan. First half wasn't great but shaded by the Harps. On two minutes, Funston got a yellow for a late challenge on Jimmy. Could have been a red according to spectators on the other side of the pitch. On 11 minutes, first shot on target by either side was by Harps, but it was tame and easily gathered by Graham. Two minutes later, Wexford had their first shot on target with a header by Eric but again it led to an easy save by Gallagher. On 20 minutes, Graham had to work hard to paw away a Harps corner from under his cross-bar. Best chance of the half for the Youths came a minute later when Craig Wall was just wide with an effort after a long-throw by Craig McCabe.

[ForzaForth]

On the half-hour, Ruairi Keating had another shot on target but again it was tame and Graham was able to gather easily. Youths were creating very little at this stage not being able to make any headway against the far stronger Harps side who were winning everything in the air all over the pitch. Harps then had a good finish to the half when Foy was sent clear but hit well over - but again the hop on the ball had to be seen to be believed. Then Cowan won a tackle in the Youths box which he shouldn't have and crossed to find Tagbo but he couldn't shoot on the turn to leave the score at 0-0 at half-time.

[ForzaForth]

Second half was overall a bit more even as Youths came into the game more but Harps again looked the more likely to score especially from set-pieces. After ten minutes, Andy Mulligan came in place of Conor English who probably knows himself that he needs to reach a higher level. After 22 minutes, Foy got a yellow for Harps for a pull-back on Jonny Bonner. Then Harps scored when another well-hit corner found McMonagle running on his own and he managed to steer the ball home from about ten yards out to put Harps in front. Even at this stage, it was hard to see where Youths were going to get their goal from. On 26 minutes, Danny Furlong had a half-chance for the Youths but again he couldn't turn on a long throw from Craig McCabe inside the Harps box. Then, with fifteen to go, Youths were thrown a potential life-line when Wexford's Lee Grace was awarded a free. The excellent Tagbo tried to impede him and both players ended up eyeball to eyeball. Tagbo moved his head forward enough to make contact and although Lee didn't go down, the ref flashed a red to bring Harps down to ten. Peter Higgins and Ryan Delaney then came on in place of Craig McCabe and Jimmy Dermody as Youths pushed forward. As expected, Harps did everything to slow the game down and Youths didn't really look like equalising except on one occasion when the ball broke to Danny inside the Harps box who lifted the ball over Gallagher and into the net but the ref. had a second earlier blown for a Wexford free without giving advantage. Further yellow cards for also given to Harps for dissent and to Mailey for another tackle on Jimmy Dermody. Match then finished on 1-0 scoreline to the away side.

[ForzaForth]

Best for Harps was their entire defence who hardly gave a sniff away all night with Cowan imperious in the middle and my man of the match. Other than that, Keating and Tagbo worked particularly hard and won a huge amount of ball giving the young Youths defence a tough time physically. The only criticisms of Harps were that they overhit far too much at times and probably could curb their ill-discipline a bit more. But if good defences win leagues, Harps could already be unbottling the Brasso. For Youths, Danny had some very good touches and Jonny and Andy had some good spells, but overall the team found it hard to create against a very strong physical side and on a lively pitch. 1-0 to Harps at full-time with about 350 at the match.

[nigel-harps1954]

Interesting to note the discipline there Forza. We've been much improved on that front this season, so it's disappointing to hear if it's returned somewhat.

Tagbo has been a real find for us this season, and I'm finding it hard to believe he headbutted someone, so interesting to note the coming together you mentioned as opposed to a clear headbutt reported on Youths Twitter account.

Good to hear our defence were solid tonight as despite 6 clean sheets, defense hasn't been overly impressive thus far.

Disappointed not to have been able to make it down to the game today, but all in all, delighted to see us 5 points clear after the first series of games.

[ForzaForth]

On the Tagbo incident, he did move forward his head to make contact so can't argue with the red but he was never going to injure anyone and Lee didn't go down. Unfortunate for him as he had been doing very well up to then.

Yeah, I thought Harps gave away too many frees from either going for the ball when they were never going to win it and a tendency to foul anyone who went past them - think they were given three yellows for that. Other than that the Harps defence was excellent. Very impressed by Harps with their speed around the pitch and strength in the tackle, etc. - something I wouldn't normally associate with the Harps. Ollie must have them running up Errigal!

We missed Rocks Keenan very badly, apparently he was injured running into a hoarding last week in Tolka and didn't recover. Needed his physical presence to get among the Harps backs in a game where the ball was going to be in the air a lot.

[nigel-harps1954]

Ta very much for that.

Team is certainly very fit and strong this year. Strength and conditioning coach is the same one who the Donegal GAA Football side had on the way to an All Ireland title in 2013, so the guy knows his stuff. The whole lot of them are built like absolute tanks and it's fantastic to see how we've not run out of steam against absolutely anyone this year.