Harps A Score Impressive Win in Galway

28 June 2008

By Chris McNulty

Mervue United   0
Finn Harps      3

FINN Harps picked up their first points in the A League following this impressive win in Galway on Saturday afternoon. Sean 'Wizard' McGowan kept faith with the same team who were unfortunate to lose their opening game against Derry City (0-1) a week earlier and they responded with an excellent team performance.

Playing with the advantage of a stiff breeze in their backs in the first half, Harps took the game to Mervue from the opening whistle. Christy Conaghan went close early on before the same player crossed for Alan Gethins to net the game's opening goal on 20 minutes. They doubled that advantage ten minutes later when Fintan Bonner was on hand to slot home from close range after some excellent approach work by Johnny Gallagher.

Three minutes before the break Gallagher dispossessed a Mervue defender and played the ball square to his strike partner Bonner who, noticing the 'keeper off his line, brilliantly chipped in the game's third goal from 30 yards.

The home side came more into the game after the break but they were unable to find a way past a resolute Harps defence in which James Doherty and Darren McGowan were solid throughout. Harps 'keeper Liam Mailey, who made an excellent reaction save when the score was 1-0, produced another fine double save on the hour mark while Brian Lafferty was well placed to clear another Mervue effort off his own goal line.

With the Galway side pushing more and more men into attack they were leaving gaps in defence and Fintan Bonner could, and should, have completed his hat-trick before the final whistle. Faced with two one on ones with the 'keeper the Harps striker saw one effort blocked by a defender on the line.

Speaking after the game the Harps boss had nothing but praise for his young charges."Many of these lads are still eligible for the U20 League and they've done themselves credit once more. I was a wee bit disappointed that Fintan didn't complete the hat-trick but overall it was a great team performance.

"We signed three or four very good players in the transfer window as we're trying to build two good squads - one for the A League and one for the U20s," he said. Three members of Saturday's team, namely Patrick Bonner, James Doherty and Fintan Bonner were on the bench for the eircom League team which defeated Bray Wanderers at Finn Park on Friday night.

"There's a good crop of young players at the club - make no mistake about that," he enthused.

The latest recruits include Mark Forker (Hearts), Anthony Doherty (Aileach), Kevin Roddy (Oxford United Stars), Shane O'Connor (UCD) and Caolan Kelly (Swilly Rovers) while former Leicester City winger Ryan McGavigan is also back with the club. On the debit side, Danny Keohane is linking with North West rivals Sligo Rovers.

McGowan's team are back on action on Monday night next, July 7, when they play host to Sligo, kick off 7.45pm.

Harps: Liam Mailey, Brian Lafferty, James Doherty, Darren McGowan, Danny Keohane, Christy Conaghan, Patrick Bonner Trevor Gethins, Alan Gethins, Johnny Gallagher, Fintan Bonner. Sub: Gary Whoriskey for A Gethins (65 mins).