The pre-season preparations are out of the way, and now the serious business can begin for Peter Hutton and his Finn Harps side.
The 2013 season gets underway in Castlebar on Sunday as Harps kick-off their competitive action with an EA Sports League Cup 1st Round game against the Mayo League in Milebush Park (kick-off 2.00pm).
It’s been a busy pre-season campaign for Hutton’s side who played no fewer than ten games – including three against Premier Division sides.
Harps were unbeaten in all but one of their ten games, the only defeat coming last weekend in their final pre-season fixture against Derry City at Finn Park – a game which Hutton described in the immediate aftermath as their “most disappointing” display in the ten games so far.
Overall though, Hutton is delighted with how the preparations for the new season have gone.
“I think pre-season has gone well,” said Hutton, “and the fact we haven’t picked up any muscle injuries along the way is a testament to the players and the conditioning work they’ve been doing since early December. The players’ application and commitment to the pre season schedule has been first class and I’m sure they, like me, are glad that the real stuff is upon us starting with the League Cup this weekend.”
Along with a host of games against Junior and Intermediate sides, Harps also played three of this season’s Airtricity League Premier Division sides – with a mixed bag of results. Two Kevin McHugh goals gave Harps a 2-0 victory in Oriel Park against Dundalk, while a 1-1 draw with achieved against Champions Sligo Rovers. FAI Cup holders Derry City came to Finn Park last Sunday and won by the odd goal in three.
“I was pleased with our performances in the two games against Dundalk and Sligo. It also demonstrated to the players that all the sacrifices and hard work they’ve committed to in the off season have been worth it as their fitness levels were extremely good. In regard to the Derry game I felt we were poor, particularly in the first half in which we looked lethargic and flat but in saying that I thought both teams looked equally poor, but Derry certainly had more energy about them. On reflection though at the time I was probably over critical given that the team had had an intensive week’s training prior to the game and looked a little jaded but I’d rather we looked jaded last weekend than this weekend as we can now address this in our training schedule leading up to the Mayo game. Overall though I’m happy how pre-season has gone.”
The Harps squad contains many of the players who finished last season, but Hutton has added some new personnel – including a number of players who are returning to Finn Park for a second spell with the club. Among the new faces are former Coleraine defender Damien McNulty, Sean McCarron from Institute and Michael Doherty arrives from Swilly Rovers. Returning to the club again are defender Matthew Crossan and midfielders Mark Forker and Marc Brolly. So, is Hutton happy with the squad he has assembled?
“I don’t think any manager is ever completely content with the squad at their disposal but I’m certainly happy firstly with the retaining of players that served the club well last season and also with the new players we’ve been able to acquire,” said Hutton of his squad ahead of the new campaign.
“I’ve always stressed the importance of having a strong squad as it breeds competition and that competitiveness drives players to better themselves and thus push each other in training. In terms of the overall squad, yes I’m happy but I’ll be more content when every one of them has achieved 100% match fitness and are ready to compete for a place in the starting eleven.”
“The fact some of our new additions have previously played at the club will definitely help them settle in quicker,” commented the Harps boss on players such as Crossan, Forker and Brolly. “In fairness though we have developed a really good team spirit and although there will be fierce competition for places I believe the players are a good group of people first and foremost and they will continue to help and support each other over what will be a long hard season.”
Ahead of the opening game of the season on Sunday, Hutton will have to plan without the suspended Keith Cowan while Ciaran Coll will miss the opening two months through injury.
“Unfortunately, we have lost Ciaran Coll for about 8 weeks as he needs surgery for a tear in his cartilage,” said Hutton. “It’s a huge blow for both Ciaran and the team but I’m sure Ciaran will be back stronger than ever but in the meantime it just stresses the importance of having depth to the squad.”
The League Cup competition down the years has been used by some clubs as the competition with least importance and a chance to give fringe players a game. However, Hutton has been a winner of this competition on a number of occasions while he was a player at Derry City and considers it a trophy that is worth competing for.
“The League Cup is one of only 3 domestic competitions we can win so naturally we want to do well in it. We are under no illusions that the Mayo game will be a tricky encounter as they possess numerous former League of Ireland players within their ranks and will certainly fancy their chances of causing an upset given that it is only our first competitive game whereas they are well into their own season. Therefore it’s important we give them due respect but ensure we are disciplined and professional and go about our job in a focused and determined manner which will hopefully see us progress to the next round.”
The two sides met the same point in last season’s competition, with Harps running out 2-0 winners at Finn Park with Kevin McHugh adding to a Mayo own goal to give Harps the victory.
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TEAM NEWS
Suspended: Keith Cowan (1 Match).
Doubtful: None.
Injured: Ciaran Coll (cartilage tear).
Form Guide (last six league games)
Finn Harps: D-W-D-L-L-W (8 pts)
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Previous games against Mayo League
26-Mar-2012 Finn Harps 2-0 Mayo League (League Cup)
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