Michael Funston retires from football

Finn Harps stalwart Michael Funston has retired after a lengthy career spent mostly with the Donegal club.

He spent 13 seasons in total at Finn Park making 335 appearances and scoring 33 goals.

The midfielder was an important part of Ollie Horgan’s squad during Harps promotion winning season in 2015. Funston made 26 appearances that season, playing in all four play-off games and scoring the first goal against Limerick in Ballybofey in the play-off final.

The Bonagee man made his debut on May 29^th 2004 in a 2-0 win over Dundalk. Harps went on to win the League of Ireland First Division that year with Funston’s help in midfield.

Funston also spent a year and a half with Northern Ireland Football League Premiership club Dungannon Swifts in 2011 before re-signing with Harps in 2012.

Manager Ollie Horgan praised the midfielder’s commitment to the team both on and off the field.

“I am only here for part of the time that Mickey played for Harps but he gave me total backing personally and as a member of the management team over the past four years. On and off the field he bought into what I was trying to do and during difficult times last season he backed me to the hilt. He deserves great credit for that,” Horgan said in a statement released by the club.

“On the field there was no player more committed than Mickey and the reality is that we might not be in Premier Division right now if he hadn’t scored that first goal against Limerick in the play-off two years ago. Yes B.J. Banda got the winner but it was Mickey that got us the equalizer to force extra-time that night against Limerick. His energy levels even at training was a great example to young players coming into the club. We will certainly miss his presence on the field and in the dressing room. Personally and on behalf of the players and management team I want to wish him well in the future.”

Funston made his final appearance for Finn Harps as a late sub in last Friday night’s North-west derby against Sligo Rovers at the Showgrounds which finished 0-0.

The news of his retirement comes less than a year after Kevin McHugh, another Finn Harps stalwart hung up his boots.

Ollie Horgan’s men return to action after the mid-season break when they host Shamrock Rovers in Ballybofey on June 16^th.