Donegal Daily
  • News
  • Sport
  • Courts
  • Jobs
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Politics
  • Features
  • Donegal County Council News
Friday 15°CSaturday 15°C

Donegal Daily Donegal Daily

sponsor banner
sponsor banner
  • News
  • Sport
  • Courts
  • Jobs
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Politics
  • Features
  • Donegal County Council News
homepage-sport

HARPS HOPING FOR WIN AFTER 500 MINUTES OF GOALESS FOOTBALL

written by Stephen Maguire April 22, 2011
FacebookTweetLinkedInPrint

For the first time since the opening game of the season, Finn Harps manager James Gallagher will have a near full strength squad to choose from when they entertain Longford Town at Finn Park tonight.

And with that, Gallagher will be hoping that his side can record their first victory of 2011 – at the eighth time of asking.

 Not only have Harps not won a game this season, they departed the EA Sports Cup in the first round and have now failed to scored in five games. 

By Joe Doherty

Not since Kevin McHugh’s strike against Monaghan United in the 65th minute of the game on 18th March have Harps hit the net – a total of 505 minutes without a goal, including extra-time against Mervue United in the EA Sports Cup.

 The concession of six goals in two games in the last seven days is a worry for Harps boss Gallagher.  

“I think we’re not giving ourselves a hope with the goals we’re conceding.  We’re hurting ourselves with the goals we’re letting in. 

“I’ve been at the club for a number of years and the goals we’ve conceded in the six games in the league, as well as Mervue (in the cup), I’ve never seen anything like it from an individual mistake point of view.  I’ve never seen a run like it at any level, it has to be a mentality thing but then again it could be something I’m doing in training.

 “It’s very difficult to talk after a game about a defeat that has come about from individual errors, I wouldn’t mind talking about a well-crafted goal but instead we’re talking about first our goalkeeper and then our defenders switching off and being caught in no-man’s land. 

“When you make mistakes against the Athlones of this world, never mind your Corks and Shelbournes, you’ll get punished.

 “And then at the other end when teams make a mistake we’re not punishing them.  We can’t focus too hard on the defenders, though, we certainly could be doing more further up the park as well.”

 Marc Brolly is available again for the visit of Longford, after missing the two games last week through suspension.  Ciaran Coll is also likely to return after missing the midweek trip to Athlone.  Garbhan Friel is still unavailable, but has resumed training again. 

Longford will include Keith Gillespie, the former Manchester United, Newcastle United and Northern Ireland winger in their squad.

 “It’s very early in the season and there’s going to be plenty of games coming up.  You would like to think that after the Cork game boys would have been chomping at the bit, looking to get out there against Athlone,” said Gallagher. 

“We have another game now against Longford to try and make things right, try and get a bit of confidence back.  A wee bit of luck wouldn’t go amiss but if you don’t work yourself into the ground, which you should be doing every week anyway, you mightn’t get that wee bit of luck that you desperately need.”

 Harps have a decent record against Longford Town at FinnPark, and have won the last four meetings between the sides in Ballybofey. 

Longford have failed to score in their last five visits and Harps will be hoping that they can again keep the goals against column blank on Friday evening, while at the same time putting an end to their own goalscoring problems.

Finn Park, Friday 22nd April 2011 – Kick-off 8.00pm

 Suspended: None.

Doubtful: None.

Injured: Garbhan Friel (knee).

Form Guide (last six league games)

Finn Harps: D-D-L-D-L-L (3 pts)

Longford Town: W-W-L-W-L-W (12 pts)

Recent games at home to Longford Town

20-Jul-04 – Lost 1-2 (League Cup)

30-Apr-05 – Drew 0-0 (Premier Division)

22-Oct-05 – Won 5-0 (Premier Division)

14-Mar-09 – Won 1-0 (First Division)

04-Sep-09 – Won 1-0 (First Division)

14-May-10 – Won 2-0 (First Division)

Finn Harps Goalscorers 2011

Kevin McHugh – 3

Gareth Harkin – 1

Finn Harps Results 2011 (Harps goalscorer in brackets)

19th April 2011 – FD – Athlone Town 1-0 Finn Harps

15th April 2011 – FD – Cork City 5-0 Finn Harps

8th April 2011 – FD – Finn Harps 0-0 Salthill Devon

28th March 2011 – EA – Mervue United 1-0 Finn Harps

25th March 2011 – FD – Waterford United 1-0 Finn Harps

18th March 2011 – FD – Finn Harps 2-2 Monaghan United (McHugh 2)

4th March 2011 – FD – Finn Harps 2-2 Limerick (McHugh, Harkin)

HARPS HOPING FOR WIN AFTER 500 MINUTES OF GOALESS FOOTBALL was last modified: April 22nd, 2011 by Stephen Maguire
FacebookTweetLinkedInPrint

Tags:
finn harpsFinn ParkLongford Town
Stephen Maguire

Stephen Maguire is the co-founder of Donegal Daily. He has worked as a reporter for almost 30 years starting locally with the Donegal Peoples Press before moving to the Mirror Group. He continues to contribute daily to national media outlets including the Irish Times, RTE, the Irish Independent, Irish Sun, Irish Mirror, Irish Star, the Daily Mail and the Examiner.

LEAVE A COMMENT

You may also like

Heartbreak as Donegal defeated by Derry in...

3 years ago

Harps left cursing their luck as Derry...

3 years ago

Ollie Horgan says ‘we have to keep...

3 years ago

Finn Harps weary of UCD threat in...

3 years ago

Breaking: Senior Football Championship Final to be...

4 years ago

Magees beaten in European Badminton Championships quarter-final

4 years ago

Harps given boost as Sadiki re-signs

4 years ago

Harps sign a familiar face from Linfield

4 years ago

Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana take Tom Ticher Ulster...

5 years ago

Kilmacrennan Celtic beat Cappry Rovers to go...

5 years ago
Advertisement
Advertisement

Donegal County Council

Facebook
Donegal County Council
Advertisement
Advertisement
Donegal Daily Jobs

Read More

  • News
  • Sport
  • Courts
  • Jobs
  • Sales & Services
  • Obituaries
  • Features
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Council News

Information

  • Contact Us
  • About
  • Advertise WIth Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer
  • Terms & Conditions

Our Sites

Donegal Woman
Donegal Woman
Donegal Daily

© 2025 Donegal Daily. All rights reserved.
Website by owenod


Back To Top.

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.OkPrivacy policy