Finn Harps currently find themselves bottom of the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division table and in a very poor patch of form – can the Donegal outfit turn things around and stop their descent to the First Division? Ollie Horgan’s troops have not
Finn Harps currently find themselves bottom of the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division table and in a very poor patch of form – can the Donegal outfit turn things around and stop their descent to the First Division?
Ollie Horgan’s troops have not scored a single strike in their last four league games (they also drew a blank in their EA Sports Cup exit to Sligo Rovers), and have conceded a worrying 12 league goals in that time-frame.
A combination of a lack of clinical goal-scorers and a leaky defence (Harps possess the worst goals-against column in the league) doesn’t bode well for the team’s prospects moving forward, and if they want to turn their fortunes around soon, they will need to at least put a halt to the damage being done by starting to pick up points. Even a couple of draws on the trot would be huge.
Horgan is a League of Ireland stalwart and has seen it all before, so the fans should be confident that they are in the right hands moving forward.
With 11 points on the board from 13 matches, they are level with Galway United who currently possess the longest unbeaten streak across all competitions with a continuing run of eight.
The Tribesmen are next up for Harps at Eamonn Deacy Park, and a win for either team could lift them out of the relegation zone so it is a pivotal game.
Any Harps fans looking for solace in the lead-up to kick off would be wise to consider the reverse 1-1 draw the two teams played out at Finn Park a few weeks ago, as well as taking into consideration that for all of Galway’s improvements, Shane Keegan’s side have still not mastered how to win games – with just a single league victory under their belts this year.
Indeed, considering how bunched-up it remains in the bottom half of the table, where just three points separates the bottom club from Drogheda United in seventh, now is the perfect time for Harps to start kicking into form.
While that pack remain clustered and scrapping for breathing room in the battle to distance themselves from the bottom three, Harps would be wise to fight harder than ever for every single point they can.
Horgan’s Rihanna-inspired ‘work, work, work’ mantra as heard in their defeat to Bray Wanderers last Friday night had many people calling for him to have a microphone near him at all times, but it also highlights just how riled-up the manager is. He’s vocal, astute and continuing to fight for his players on the side-lines and on the training pitch by encouraging them. That sort of mentality and support could be crucial as the weeks go by.
Harps have certainly endeavoured to keep their heads above water and considering how positive they were in the opening few weeks of the season, it’s possible this current slump is just a blip, something they will shrug off in time.
After all, their early form, the highlight of which was picking up eight points in four matches in March, suggests they have what it takes to be competitive.
With the mid-season break approaching, and the mid-way point of the campaign coming with it, teams will be facing into the final third of fixtures before they realise it. For a team like Finn Harps that means gathering necessary momentum as quickly as possible.
Trevor Murray
