Harps find new harmony

The departure of Gavin Dykes, the mass transfer requests and the financial wrangling while not gone nor forgotten, in no way inhibited Finn Harps at Whitehall yesterday.

The scoreline flatters the amateurs of Home Farm, completely outplayed and fortunate to escape a hiding, despite the courage and honesty of their endeavour.

Jonathan Speak has been installed as the new manager until the end of the season and, if he receives the same sort of commitment from his players that was in evidence during yesterday's match, then a decent cup run is a possibility and relegation problems not necessarily insurmountable.

The Donegal side played some excellent football, the patience to work their openings through neat interchanges and the strong running of the excellent Paddy McGranaghan down the left flank should have yielded greater dividends. In mitigation, they were rarely favoured by the break of the ball in the penalty area.

Speak and Kevin McHugh ran tirelessly up front, holding the ball up to great effect and sensibly utilising a hard working midfield quartet of McGranaghan, Gerard McGrenaghan, Dom Tierney and Fergal Harkin.

It provided a marked contrast between the teams as Home Farm's front two of Gerard Redmond and Noel Ankers were rarely supported by the midfield cavalry.

Even when the home side did manage to string a few passes together, they were confronted by a Harps back four who defended with discipline and cohesion.

The visitors' dominance in the first half was highlighted by the corner count, 10-1 in their favour. They took the lead on 25 minutes when McGrenaghan's excellent cross from the right wing was headed home emphatically by Tierney from six yards.

It wasn't until the 73rd minute that Harps bagged a second, a wonderful 70-yard run by Minnock from his own penalty area to the Home Farm byeline culminated in a halfcross half-shot. The ball was unfortunately deflected to the net by Farm's Stephen Kenny.

Chances continued to materialise and the visitors finally availed of a third on 89 minutes when Fergal Harkin side footed home from 12 yards.

Yesterday's victory represented Finn Harps first win since November 7th, providing a timely fillip for Speak and the club for the tougher battles that lie ahead.

Home Farm: Moylan, Bell, Dodd (G Coyle 80 mins), Coyle, Kenny, Arkins (Whelan 60 mins), Orr, Gallagher, Roche (Cash 53 mins), Redmond, Ankers.

Finn Harps: Downey, Mohan, Minnock, Scanlon, R Kenny, McGrenaghan, Tierney, Harkan (capt), McGranaghan, McHugh, Speak (McGavigan 90 mins).

Referee: J Breen (Dublin).