FINN HARPS Finn Harps’ season started with a stutter, not down to form but simply because of the weather wreaking havoc up and down the country and due to this they found their games few and far between. They got off to a decent start picking up 7 p
FINN HARPS
Finn Harps’ season started with a stutter, not down to form but simply because of the weather wreaking havoc up and down the country and due to this they found their games few and far between. They got off to a decent start picking up 7 points from their first three games while also pushing Derry City to the limit in the EA SPORTS Cup second round but have more recently struggled to stay consistent.
Manager Ollie Horgan has pointed out on a number of occasions that there is work to be done for his side to get near the top sides as it is the most competitive First Division witnessed in quite some time.
Fixture build up can always play a part in a teams fatigue but Horgan isn’t a man to make excuses and knows that were they finish is fully their responsibility. If they can hit their form of late April and early May then second place won’t be a million miles away from the Donegal outfit come the end of September.
Mid-Season Rating: C
Finn Harps have all the right ingredients for promotion at the first attempt but can’t seem to find the right recipe. Mid-table mediocrity could beckon unless their form picks up in the second half of the season to stay within touching distance of the promotion pack.
Best Player: Paddy McCourt
This may be the former Celtic man's last season as a player after announcing his intention to retire at the seasons end but it hasn’t stopped him from producing moments of genius to gain Harps some crucial points, notably against Drogheda and Galway.
Most Promising Newcomer: Sam Todd
Sam Todd, on loan from local rivals Derry City, has been involved heavily in the Harps rearguard alongside Keith Cowan and has brought about a new look defence, which at times can be very tough to break down. Throughout all of the 2017 season, Harps kept only four clean sheets, all on the road while they have already managed 6 this season, with four of those at Finn Park.
Area They Need To Strengthen: Strikers
At times this season, Harps ability to finish their chances has been their downfall. Among the top six teams in the league, Harps are the least prolific side, netting only 24 times, compared to Shelbourne for example, who sit in third with 32 goals scored. Harps have some good creative midfielders and they need a striker to feed their chances.
