Finn Harps lost for the fifth game in a row after Champions Dundalk returned to Oriel Park with three goals scored and three points gained. All three goals were scored via the head of an opposition player, Michael Duffy kicked things off with John M
Finn Harps lost for the fifth game in a row after Champions Dundalk returned to Oriel Park with three goals scored and three points gained.
All three goals were scored via the head of an opposition player, Michael Duffy kicked things off with John Mountney adding a second before the break.
Brian Gartland added the third after the hour mark and Georgie Kelly nearly got his customary Finn Park goal in stoppage time but he was denied by the crossbar.
Ollie Horgan noted that his side had their moments during the match, but pointed out that Dundalk's attack isn’t the only reason they are top of the table.
“I thought we were well in the game but we got turned over by the two goals before half time,” he said.
“If you look at the way Dundalk defended when they had to, Gary Rogers made three very good saves, Brian Gartland, Dan Cleary, they blocked shots, they won headers from corners when we were on top.
“That is why they concede very few goals, it’s not just at the other end with Pat Hoban and John Mountney, it is the back four or five that defended when they had to tonight and we didn’t do it at the other end,” he added.
Horgan added that the manner that his side conceded was disappointing and the second goal conceded was the killer.
“Dundalk on the counter-attack are excellent, it would have been nice to see if we had kept it tight, would they have opened us up as they normally do?” he asked.
“They didn’t have to, the second goal before half time, that killed us, we got caught in our own half and if we defend like that we don’t deserve anything out of it,” he added.
Harps have a trip to Inchicore in their next outing and Horgan noted that defence will play a big part in that fixture.
“St. Pat’s bullied us off the pitch here, both football wise and physically and if we defend like we did tonight, we won’t match them nevermind any of the other sides,” he said.
Mark Anthony McGinley was handed his first start of the season and Horgan stated everyone at the club has been given a fair chance to shine.
“Mark(McGinley) is a good goalkeeper, so is Peter Burke, we have no problem with either keeper, it was basically to give people game time and see where people are at,” he said commenting of McGinley's debut.
“I think everybody here has got a fair crack at it, as regards to personnel and the panel, they will step up and try and improve with decision making in particular, there is only so much we can do but hopefully they will learn from tonight if nothing else,” he concluded.
