Five star Harps get back on song

Finn Harps………….5

Kilkenny City……….0

Report by Chris McNulty (Derry People, Donegal News)

TWO Jonathan Minnock penalties sent Finn Harps on their way to a comprehensive five-nil win over hapless Kilkenny City at Finn Park for what was only their second win of the campaign.

This game drew to a close what has be a difficult first quarter of the new season for Paul Hegarty and the Finn Park faithful with only six points from a possible 24 being accumulated ahead of Friday night's fixture.

It was a welcomed victory for the hosts and a deserved one at that with manager Hegarty also getting the good performance that he had called for.

The workrate all throughout the side was much improved on Friday night and, while Kilkenny offered little in the way of creativity, Hegarty had a number of top showings in his ranks, not least from man-of-the-match Chris Breen.

The flame-haired Stranorlar man bagged Harps' fifth of the night to cap off a fine evening at the office that saw him run the Kilkenny rear-guard ragged and he also had a hand in both penalty calls.

Alongside him, Seamus Brown worked tirelessly, while John O'Loughlin gave another composed display from the middle of the park and Jonathan Minnock and Shaun Holmes combined well on the left flank.

The Harps side showed three alterations from that which had lined out in Athlone last weekend. Gordon Simms was forced to miss out through suspension having been sent off in the 2-2 draw with Athlone. His place in the starting line-up was taken by Sean Roddy, who was deployed on the right side of the Harps defence with Eloka Asokhu moving into the middle.

The other changes in the Harps side saw Jonathan Minnock return from suspension to take the place of Matthew Crossan while Barry Curran was preferred to Marc Brolly.

Harps showed a lot of early promise with Chris Breen in particular making life difficult for the Kilkenny rearguard. The young Stranorlar man was out of the blocks early, creating a couple of excellent chances for his side in the early stages.

On four minutes he sped away from his man before squaring smartly to Barry Curran who was perfectly placed to fire Harps ahead, but the ball rolled under his feet and the chance was gone.

Two minutes later, Breen spun away from Colin Falvey and cut back for Seamus Brown to shoot, but his shot was held by Kilkenny ‘keeper John McGuinness.

It set the tone for what was to come for the remainder of the contest with Breen's pace and trickery giving the visitors a nightmare while Seamus Brown's industrious work-rate alongside him in the attack was commendable.

Leading four-nil at the interval, Harps were already cruising to their second home win of the season when Breen netted his side's fifth. A neat attacking move saw Tony Shields release Jonathan Minnock down the left flank. His deep cross found Barry Curran at the back post, who neatly squared inside for Breen to skillfully back-heel past John McGuinness.

Harps had the luxury of being able to send on Stephen Parkhouse and Conor Gethins from the bench and both came within inches of striking a sixth. Parkhouse watched his effort come off the crossbar after a neat nod down by Barry Curran and Gethins was inches away with a stinging volley moments later.

Kilkenny were spared further agony though as Harps were left settle for five, four of which had come inside the first half, meaning that the game was effectively over as a contest by the interval.

On 21minutes, Harps deservedly opened their account. Breen's through ball found John O'Loughlin inside the Kilkenny penalty area and, as he was shaping to cross, he was fouled by Andrew Deane, leaving referee Pat Whelan with no option but to award the hosts a spot-kick.

Jonathan Minnock confidently stepped up to send McGuinness the wrong way for his first of the season. The Convoy man was on the mark again 14minutes later with another spot kick.

This time it was Breen who was fouled with Conor Falvey the guilty party. Minnock made no mistake in rolling home the second and, within a minute, Harps were three to the good.

John O'Loughlin dispossessed his man and fired home from close range before Seamus Brown added number four five minutes from half-time. Sean Roddy's through ball found Brown, who got the better of his man, rounded ‘keeper McGuinness and slotted into the unguarded net.

It was a rather trouble free evening for James Gallagher with Kilkenny's best opportunities coming when Harps had the game already signed, sealed and delivered. Paraic Fogarty watched a first-time volley go inches over the bar while Martin Tynan beat the Harps goalkeeper with a looping effort only for it to roll agonisingly wide of Gallagher's goal.

This result sets Harps up nicely for the busy week that is in store. Tonight, Sligo Rovers visit Finn Park for the League Cup meeting while Dundalk roll into town on Friday night next.

Finn Harps: James Gallagher; Sean Roddy, Jonathan Minnock, Declan Boyle, Eloka Asokhu; Tony Shields, Barry Curran, John O'Loughlin, Shaun Holmes; Chris Breen, Seamus Brown. Subs: Conor Gethins (for Minnock, 69mins); Shaun McGowan (for Boyle, 69mins); Stephen Parkhouse (for Brown, 74mins).

Kilkenny City: John McGuinness; Ian Nagle, Andrew Deane, Kieran Fitzgerald, Colin Falvey; Kevin Walsh, Stephen Grant, Michael Comerford, Niall Murphy; Paraic Fogarty, Martin Tynan. Subs: Trevor Moylan (for Murphy, h/t); Darragh Hayes (for Walsh, 64mins); Robbie Quan (for Fitzgerald, 76mins).

Referee: Pat Whelan (Dublin)

Hegarty not getting carried away

MUCH like he has done after previous encounters this season, Finn Harps manager Paul Hegarty was refusing to get carried away after his side's big win over Kilkenny City on Friday night.

All through Harps' recent bad spell of results, the Ballindrait man refused to panic and he was remaining true to form on Friday night, opting to keep the feet quite firmly on the ground. 

While heaping praise on his side for what was undoubtedly a performance out of the top drawer, Hegarty noted: “It is one performance and we're not getting carried away with it and we have to move onto Monday night's game. We're just taking it one game at a time to be honest because football is a funny thing. Once you think you have it sussed it has a habit of kicking you in the teeth.” 

The Harps boss was naturally pleased with his side's display and one that he hopes will give them a confidence boost heading into the second quarter of the season.

“I thought it was a great performance. A tremendous performance in fact. I don't think you'll see many more better performances here this year. I think it was top class entertainment,” commented Hegarty, who felt that his side deserved more from their recent outings prior to Friday night.

“That's what I would expect from them week-in, week-out. I think all along, I had sayed we were the better side in every match we had played. I would dare anybody to contradict me on that, because I don't think anybody could. The exception was probably last week in Athlone when we could have been two or three down and James Gallagher kept us in the match. We could have won that match too though,” said the Harps boss.

“It (Friday's game) surprised me a bit in that it was so comfortable. I mean, we could have been two or three up before we scored at all. But the boys had the belief to go on an win the match and they kept pushing and pushing. What impressed me most was the way they kept going in the second half when they could have taken their foot off the pedal a wee bit,” said Hegarty.

“I though Chris Breen was outstanding tonight, as he was in Athlone. There is exceptional talent in that young fella, if he would just have a wee bit more belief in himself. In the last minute of the match, he's gone and chased a man 60yards to get the ball back and that's what we're looking for - people with genuine hunger and desire,” concluded the former Derry City man.