Tag: finn harps

Supporters’ Club Notes (08/07/2018)

Sun Jul 8th 2018

BURST BUBBLE

Expectations were high before our game against Cobh.After all, recentperformances had been excellent and plenty of goals had been scored. The evening was perfect. There was a confident buzz about the City Calling Stadium. Plenty of former supporters filed through the turnstiles. Section O made a big effort to add to their numbers and had plenty of flags flying high. There was a festival on the streets of the town, the World Cup was on yet we had a large, expectant crowd.

But by half time, it looked like a different team to that which hammered UCD. If Cobh’s challenge was taken for granted, thentheir opening goal should have awoken us from our deep slumber. While Sam Vernon managed to equalise, we were carved open again and Cobh held out for an unlikely 2-1 win. While the ref wasn’t brilliant, in fairness he can’t be blamed for the under-par performance. We can do better and quite simply, we have to do better.

HARPS AWAY

A tough encounter is guaranteed this weekend when Finn Harps will “welcome” us to Finn Park. Their animated manager was an interested spectator at the Cobh game and Ollie didn’t leave the City Calling Stadium trembling with fear after Saturday night’s game. Each game to date has a bit of a bite and now that the Donegal men have leapfrogged us, they’ll certainly want to widen the gap. But then, we know that we have to produce a top drawer performance to remain in the hunt for promotion. It won’t be a game for the faint hearted but we’re ready. Bring it on.

DYLAN’S AWARD

Dylan McGlade received his Player of the Month award for June on Saturday night last. Supporters’ Club member Phil Pike made the presentation. Pope Francis might be flying in to Knock next month but few travel to and from the Mayo airport like our high flying Phil, who flies over from England for every home game.

MARTY’S RETURN

We may have been bitterly disappointed with the result against Cobh but there was one positive from the game. Marty Stapleton made a welcome return to the fold of Section O. Marty was almost a month in hospital in Mullingar. Despite all the World Cup games ontv, Marty wasn’t able to see any of them…there were plenty of screens in ICU but to Marty’s dismay, there was no TV screen. So he made up for it by taking in some live action on Saturday night last. Great to see you back home again Marty.

WHAT’S THE SCORE?

Work has recommenced on the restoration of our scoreboard. While it won’t be operational for the game against Oxford on Tuesday July 11th, it should be up and flashing for our next home game. Well, fingers crossed.

BIRTHDAY WISHES

Heartiest congratulations to Pauric Connolly who celebrates a significant birthday shortly. Pairic has been supporting De Town, home and away, since he was out of nappies. A Town game just wouldn’t be the same without Pauric’s famous support and his voice is instantly recognised at grounds all over the land. This note writer used to travel to matches on the bar of Pauric’s bicycle and that wasn’t today nor even yesterday! Have a wonderful birthday Pauric.

OXFORD UTD ON TUESDAY

Oxford United, are our welcome guests this Tuesday night,July 10th. Kick off is 7.45pm. It should be a chance to give the new signings a run out ahead of the Finn Harps clash. If we can hammer the students of UCD 5-1, sure we should be well able for Oxford too!

CAR BOOT SALE

It’s only the start of July but already people are asking about the August Car Boot Sale. Well, it’s quite easy really. It’ll be on the Bank Holiday Monday which we’re told will be a bright, sunny warm day. Hopefully we’ll have a good crowd and then we can afford the paint for the new scoreboard which is being paid for by proceeds from these Bank Holiday Mondays. Every time in the future, when you check the score, just think of the dedicated volunteers who made it all possible.


Match Report: Finn Harps 2-4 Longford Town FC

Tue Jun 5th 2018

SSE Airtricity League First Division
Finn Harps 2-4 Longford Town
Monday 4th June 2018
City Calling Stadium / 5.00pm

Match Report by James Donnelly

Longford Town rolled into Ballybofey yesterday evening high on momentum from the previous Friday’s brilliant win over Galway United at home. A trip up to Donegal only 3 days later seemed like a daunting task but De Town came away 4-2 winners in Finn Park in what was a physical, back and forth encounter.

Longford applied pressure on the northerners from the get go and there wasn’t more than 5 minutes on the clock when local star Aodh Dervin volleyed home from a Sam Verdon headed pass to put De Town 1-0 up. Dervin’s second goal in as many games for the club.

From then on, it was all Finn Harps. Ollie Horgan’s men began to hold possession and attack the Longford Town defence, Ciaran O’Connor going close from distance on 11 minutes, and Jesse Devers being denied by the finger tips of Town keeper Michael Kelly only a few moments later.

Sam Verdon could have put Longford 2-0 up on 14 minutes when a good solo run from the midfield saw the Dublin man’s shot hit the post of Ciaran Gallagher’s goal and bounce back out. A let off for the Donegal team.

Dylan McGlade got Longford’s second on the half hour mark when a beautifully placed pass from Dean Byrne found the pacy winger who easily slipped it past Gallagher in goal to put Longford in control.

Finn Harps had calls for a penalty waved away not too long after when Devers went down from what appeared to be an ok challenge from Dervin but Eoghan O’Shea immediately signalled no peno, much to the delight of the Longford Town travelling support and the dismay of Ollie Horgan.

The home side came out all guns blazing in the second half and it wasn’t long before they got their first goal back in the game. A challenge from Town defender Daniel O’Reilly resulted in a penalty for Finn Harps which Paddy McCourt duly put away with ease to get them back into the game. Only 4 minutes later, Harps got their equaliser when a through ball to Mikey Place saw him slip in behind the Town defence to slot it past Kelly to make it 2-2.

              Dylan McGlade pictured scoring his second goal of the night and Longford Town’s fourth. Pic: Ken Keenan

But Longford were having none of it. De Town marched straight back up the pitch from tip off and won a corner. The resulting cross was hit across the box to Dean Byrne who swung it back in to the head of Sam Verdon who headed home from close range to put Neale Fenn’s men back in the driving seat. Dean Byrne’s second assist of the game.

McGlade stunned the home support again with a brilliant solo effort on 80 minutes. Picking the ball up in the centre circle, he dribbled down field with speed before turning his man and blasting it low into the corner of the net to cement the win for Longford Town.

The game ended 4-2 in favour of De Town but not without controversy, a Finn Harps man being sent off after the final whistle, first for a kick at substitute Jamie Hollywood and then a disgusting headbutt on substitute Chris Mulhall.

Poor sportsmanship on display at the end of a great game for Longford Town.

TEAM LINE-UPS

Finn Harps: Ciaran Gallagher, Aidan Friel, Ciaran Coll (C), Keith Cowan, Jesse Devers, Ciaran O’Connor, Tommy McBride (red card), Mark Timlin, Paddy McCourt, Sam Todd.

Longford Town: Michael Kelly, Shane Elworthy, Daniel O’Reilly, Michael McDonnell, Tristan Noack-Hofmann, Dylan McGlade, Aodh Dervin, Dean Zambra (C), Dean Byrne, Sam Verdon, Karl Chambers

Subs: Jack Brady, Peter Hopkins (used), Chris Mulhall (used), Evan Galvin, Jamie Hollywood (used), Jackson Ryan.

Attendance: 545

Pictures from last night’s 2-1 defeat to Finn Harps

Sun Apr 29th 2018

Pictures by Tiernan Dolan

Unfortunately Dylan McGlades’ excellent goal wasn’t enough for us to even share the points tonight with Finn Harps snatching a late, late winner.

The youngsters of Stonepark showed some super soccer skills at half time – it was the calm between two storms.



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