Harps Launch New Youth Initiative

July 20, 2007

Finn Harps FC hosted the launch of the clubs latest Youth Development Initiative at the Central Hotel, Donegal Town last Tuesday night. The club has developed a Youth Development Squad in partnership with the South Donegal Schoolboys League following discussions last winter, and the squad will compete in the Foyle Cup later this month, and hope to participate in the Donegal Youth League this year.

The project is fully in cooperation with the Donegal Schoolboys League and in line with the FAI Technical Development Plan as it provides a continuing pathway for players finishing schoolboy football at 16 years of age to continue to play at a high level till the are 18, with a clear path to progress to U21 and ultimately Senior Eircom League Football.

The squad is made up predominantly of players from the South Donegal Area who are joined by a number of Ballybofey and Finn Valley representatives and current U21 squad members. The squad has been training in South Donegal under the watchful eye of Harps staff Sean McGowan and Niall McGonagle, and have made several visits to Ballybofey to witness the clubs senior and U21 set ups. McGonagle who recently joined the coaching staff at Finn Harps will manage the side in competition, although the emphasis of the project is on player development rather than competition success.

The newest batch to young Harps will take the field in the prestigious Foyle Cup Competition and the Youth (U18) section, an age group that also includes Derry City, Letterkenny Rovers and Inishowen Youths. Harps have been drawn in Group D together with AFC Bournemouth and Ballyclare Comrades. See www.foylecup.com for details of fixtures.

The club were also delighted to learn following a meeting with the Donegal Youth League last Friday that the club's application has been accepted and this squad will now compete in the County's U18 League for the coming season.

FAI Regional Development Officers, representatives of all South Donegal Schoolboy clubs, sponsors, local supporters clubs and the media were be joined at the launch by Paul Hegarty and first team players Declan Boyle and Sean McGowan at Tuesday's event. Harps would like to particularly thank the Central Hotel, Quinn Fuels and O'Dowd Donnelly Carbin for their sponsorship of kits and training gear and equipment for the new team.