Re-start Club Preview: Finn Harps

Club: Finn Harps

Manager: Ollie Horgan 

Highest league goal scorer: Ryan Connolly and Karl O’Sullivan (One goal each)

Current position: 8th

How we thought they would do for the 2020 season

For the second season running extratime.com writers predicted that Finn Harps would finish last in the Premier Division.

Harps managed to finish above expectations last year and stayed up through the playoffs, Ollie Horgan’s men will be looking to complete a similar feat in 2020.

How they did in the opening part of the season

The Donegal side got going early on with four points picked up in their opening two games. 

An opening day win against relegation rivals Sligo Rovers could be important come the end of the season and a hard earned point away to Derry City made up a good start for Ollie Horgan’s side.

Two losses followed against Cork City and Dundalk before the season was postponed.

Moment of the season so far

Despite conceding a late equaliser at the Brandywell to draw with Derry City, Ryan Connolly’s goal to put  Harps in the lead could be considered as the moment of the season so far for Harps.

The Donegal club struggle away to their North-West rivals normally so to get a point was impressive.

Possibly more noteworthy was that this was Ryan Connolly’s first goal since signing for the club ahead of the 2020 season. 

The Mayo man had spent a whole year outside of the League of Ireland with home club Ballyglass, as well as two years out of the Premier Division before signing for Finn Harps.

Stand out player so far this season

Ryan Connolly was a revelation during the game against Derry City and the midfielder did not miss a beat during the 1-1 draw at the Brandywell.

Despite last playing Premier Division football for Shamrock Rovers in the 2017 season it looked as if Connolly had never left as he claimed the extratime.com Player of the Match on the night.

Connolly will be an important part of the Harps squad as the battle against relegation.

Squad changes during lockdown

None

What they need to do in the re-start

Improving consistency and beating the teams around them in the table will be a major goal for Harps going into the re-start. 

Beating Sligo on the opening day of the season was an important result but a loss to Cork City, another one of the teams that will be down the bottom of the table, is the type of result they will need to avoid.

Harps are admired for their dogged defence but results like the 4-0 drubbing at the hands of Dundalk will be a concern going into the rest of the season and the Donegal side might have to look at tightening up their defence if they want to stay up this season.

Where we see them finishing

8th

Who will they face in the FAI Cup?

St Patrick’s Athletic

First post-lockdown league fixture

Shamrock Rovers (away)