The next match was against Bohiemians at Dalymount Park. Breeno returned to the forward line alongside Kevin McHugh. A few hundred Harps fans made the trip to the capital and saw one of their former stars, the skilful Fergal Harkin. A Minnock own goal was the difference. Thomas Bonner looked alright and had an opportunity to score after cutting back from the line and hitting a powerful shot that the keeper done well to save. McHugh was sent off for two yellow cards-the second after a bad sliding tackle on a Bohs player. This left him suspended for the Longford game. This was Bohs first league win of the campaign, Harps would be alot happier with a point off ‘em as bad form before kept Bohs near the bottom.
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Next up was Harps v Longford Town. The first home match i’ve missed this season(excluding friendlies) and the first since a good bit back to July/August last year. This was due to transport reasons and although I considered walking 13 miles it was a bit too chilly and dark to walk. Instead i was on the forum awaiting updates from the kind guys that post. Harps played with a 3-5-2 formation with Bradley, Boyle and Luca at the back, Minno and Rossiter playing as wing-backs, three in the middle were Gorman, Funston and Thomas Bonner. Ross Connelly and Seamus Browne was the unusual forward partnering. Connelly missed an open net by shooting over the bar with only 10 minutes gone. The crowd of 1100 was a big drop from previous attendence figures but plenty of noise came from the halfway line crew apparently. Plenty of shots came from both teams. Gorman drilled a hard shot low but the ‘keeper saved comfortably. Harps played poorly in the first 15 minutes of the second half but began to pick things up by winning corners and free-kicks. Keith Cowan came on for Harps and drew a save out of the Longford goalie who injured himself in the process. The ref getting hit by the ball and getting injured interuppted the flow of the game. The last 10 minutes saw a flurry of shots and crosses from Harps but to no avail. “We love you Finn Harps, we do!” sang the Harps crew from the shed as the teams walked off from the pitch. A point is better than nothing but Connelly could rue that miss at the end of the season.
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On the 6th of May we played Shelbourne at Tolka in what was the first time this season that manager Felix Healy could pick a team without injuries or suspensions getting in the way.
Kevin McHugh was the lone front-man as Healy opted for a 4-5-1 formation. Minno and Breen were on the flanks whilst the Letterkenny trio of Thomas Bonner, Anthony Gorman and Michael Funston operated in central midfield. Harps had to play in an all-orange kit which, to be quite brutally honest, was atrocious. Early into the first half Harps could have been leading, McHugh’s strike was finely saved by goalkeeper Steve Williams. Later on in the first-half Breen was one-on-one but his poor shot was dragged wide where he should have really done better. This contest was fairly even and any neutral at the ground would have difficulty spotting who was top and who was bottom.
Eight minutes before the break the first goal came. Dave Rogers, a centre back, streamed down the left-wing and the onrushing Jamie Harris met the ball and gave Cullen no chance. Goals later from Richie Baker and Jason Byrne gave Shels a 3-0 win. A score-line not reflecting the overall pattern of play. As Healy had said earlier Harps can be a decent team with their full-team out. Chris Breen was excellent in the match. During the match Harps caught Shels on the break and the ball came to Breeno who used his terrific pace to pass three defenders, he cut inside and played the ball to superKev who was unmarked on the right. Kev unleashed a shot which was only narrowly wide from a tight angle.
______________________________VS UCD (H):
Finn Harps 1 – 0 UCD
Before this match had begun we were given a pre-match boost learning that Shamrock Rovers had been deducted eight points by the FAI for breaching license regulations. Another grand goalkeeping display from Gavin Cullen and an early goal from Kevin McHugh were enough to help Harps to victory over UCD on a dry Saturday night.UCD had began attacking from the kick-off and nearly scored in the first minute. In the eighth minute McHugh capitalised on a bad back-pass from a UCD defender to slot the ball past their ‘keeper. Only the second time this season that we were in front. Harps had plenty of one-on-one chances throughout the half. Chris Breen was played through by an excellent pass from Luca and rounded the keeper but took a touch too firm and was driven wide a bit. His shot came but too weak as the UCD defence had got back on time. Breeno had another chance in the second half but the keeper done well to save.
Erm, cant remeber much more. Gary Crossan came on as a sub to receive applause after being out injured for a few months.. He was a bit rusty which you’d expect after being out for so long but helped the attacking none the less. UCD had spells of possession and it looked like that they would grab an equalizer but Harps held on and our first victory of the season arrived. “We Love you Finn Harps we do” the shed gang sang (including me for my first ever chant at Finn Park) as the teams came off. Things were not looking as bad. “We’re on our way now” was the delighted thought that we were back on track.
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Bah. The next match was against Louth outfit Drogheda, one of the big-spenders as they attempt to challenge for the title this season. I have only seen the highlights from TV3 but all reports say that had Healy played more of an attacking system we could have been a match for them. Although Healy may have a case as he stuck to the formation that had worked well against champions Shelbourne in the previous away game.
Harps had the first shot in Chris Breen. The local lad cut inside but his shot was no trouble to Drogs netminder Gary Rodgers. Drogheda had more possession throughout the first half and were troubling Harps mainly from the left wing. United’s left winger Shane Robonson was constantly troubling Ian Rossiter and on twenty minutes the former Shamrock Rovers winger neatly rounded Rossiter but hit his shot wide. Before that though Simon Webb was lucky not to give away a penalty when the ball rolled down his arm before he was able to clear it. Referee Anthony Buttimer failed to see it though. On twenty-five minutes Minnock was released down the wing by McHugh, the Harps winger drilled the ball in but Michael Funston was unable to get any power in his header and so the ball was gathered easily by the goalkeeper. Eleven minutes into the second half and Drogs had the lead. Declan O’Brien saw his header from a corner blocked on the goalline by Rossiter. Shane Bradley, in attempting to clear the ball, gave possession back to the home side and the ball found its way to Jermaine Sandvliet who’s half-volley struck the back of the net. Harps immedediately reverted to a 4-4-2 formation with Chris Breen going alongside McHugh in attack. Michael Funston had three efforts but none flew into the net as Harps had begun to dominate the game. The game finished 1-0 to Drogheda meaning Harps had lost all their away games in the first third of the season.
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