Finn Harps         3
Mervue United   1

Courtesy of Chris McNulty (DONEGAL NEWS)

FINN Harps secured runners-up spot in Section One of the A Championship following this comfortable win over Mervue United in heavy conditions at Finn Park on Saturday afternoon.

Trevor Gethins netted twice and Anthony Doherty was also on target as Sean 'Wizard' McGowan's team took the points that means they will conclude the term in second position. That spot has been secured with an outstanding game against Drogheda United still to play.

Saturday's game came after a month without a competitive outing since the Sligo Rovers match at the beginning of October. McGowan was missing Patrick Bonner, Gary Whoriskey and Mark Forker through GAA commitments while suspension ruled Darren McGowan out of contention.

But, midway through the first-half the young Harps took the lead when Trevor Gethins finished off a good passing move with a neat finish.

"We played some excellent football in the first-half," said McGowan afterwards. Indeed Harps could have been further in front only for the Mervue 'keeper thwarting Anthony Doherty on a couple of occasions, while a defender had to be alert to curb the danger of Fintan Bonner after he got in behind.

By this stage Harps could have been well in front, but then Declan O'Donnell had to make a timely interception at the other end while on the stroke of half time Doherty was denied again by the Mervue goalkeeper.

But Doherty wouldn't be denied on his next run in on goal as he connected with a fantastic through-ball by Trevor Gethins before riffling an unstoppable shot into the top corner.
"We then got a bit complacent for a while," mentioned McGowan after the win. "We gave away possession very cheaply on one occasion and that let them in for a goal."

But, with seven minutes left Fintan Bonner did the spadework down the right and his cross was touched by Alan Gethins into the path of his brother Trevor, who made no mistake in firing into the top corner from the edge of the box.

"While we didn't play as well in the second half as we had in the first," added the Harps boss, "it was still a good battling display. Again, I have to give great credit to the players. They are tremendous to work with and they finish now in second spot to go with a semi final appearance in the Shield."

With only one team advancing from the groups, Bohs move into the final, but Harps will take great heart from their runners-up finish, especially given the group they found themselves in.

McGowan added: "We are disappointed not to have won the group because that's what we set out to do, but the group contains a lot of big names like Bohs, Drogheda, Derry, Shamrock Rovers and Sligo Rovers.

"We are quite happy and glad now to have secured runners-up spot. Coming second to Bohs, whose senior team have just won the League, is not a bad achievement at all.

"The A Championship is about developing players and about getting their attitude right. And we've seen them go to some big stadiums like the Brandywell, Dalymount and the Showgrounds to give very good accounts of themselves.

"I see no reason why some of these lads can't progress on further. It will be a bonus if we can produce some players who want to go out and play for the club.

"Johnny Glynn and Mark Herrick, who are joint managers of Mervue were saying that we were one of the best footballing sides they have come up against. They were surprised that some of them hadn't featured more in the first team. Maybe they would have had we been in a more comfortable position, but it's now some of the more experienced players that are needed."

Finn Harps: Liam Mailey; Declan O'Donnell, Johnny Havlin, Kevin Roddy, Brian Lafferty; Christy Connaghan, Caolan Kelly, Trevor Gethins, Alan Gethins; Fintan Bonner, Anthony Doherty. Subs: Declan McGarvey for O'Donnell; Oisin McMenamin for Doherty; Mark Moran for A.Gethins.