Finn Harps boss Ollie Horgan put his side’s gutsy first win of the season down to plain hard work as they came from behind to stun St Patrick's Athletic 2-1 at Richmond Park on Monday night. Though Graham Kelly punished a defensive mistake to put St
Finn Harps boss Ollie Horgan put his side’s gutsy first win of the season down to plain hard work as they came from behind to stun St Patrick's Athletic 2-1 at Richmond Park on Monday night. Though Graham Kelly punished a defensive mistake to put St Pat’s ahead after just three minutes, Harps hit back to level with a well-taken strike from Sean Houston. Caolan McAleer then availed of a defensive error at the other end to set up Ciaran O’Connor for what proved Harps’ winner just before half-time. “It wasn't about quality, it was about hard work,” said Horgan. “We got away with it. There was a period in the second-half when we couldn't get out of our own half, never mind the 18-yard line, but we held on and got away with it. “Listen, we gave them a goal start and to be fair to Pats they were the better side and played the better football, but we dug in. “I thought in the first half we pressed them high and did quite well.” The big win moves Harps onto four points, three clear of the relegation places, where St Pat’s now languish with just one point from their four games. On loan from champions Dundalk, impressive 20-year-old striker O’Connor now has three goals from four games. “We got in what we could,” said Horgan of his transfer business in the off season. “There were a lot of players that we approached that we couldn't get in for a hell of a lot of reasons, but we got a bit of quality in. “You mention Ciaran, he will work his socks off as well as giving you quality and to be fair, we probably need more of it. “We've four points and it's great, but what will it take to survive? A hell of a lot more.” Paul Buttner
