Midseason Report Card - Finn Harps

Club: Finn Harps

Manager: Ollie Horgan

Stadium: Finn Park

Highest attendance this season: 1,845 (vs Cork City, February 24^th)

Highest league goalscorer: Ciaran O'Connor (5)

Mid-season position: 7th

How we thought they would do

Our writers near-unanimously predicted that Finn Harps would finish bottom of the table.

How they really have done

So far, Harps have competed better than expected, in part down to the performances of late squad additions like Northern Ireland international Paddy McCourt and Dundalk loanee Ciaran O'Connor. So tight are things at the bottom, however, that a couple of wins moved Harps from three points adrift at the bottom of the table to midtable so their position remains unstable.

Moment of the season so far

Undoubtedly the 2-0 win away to Derry City, the first time Harps have beaten their arch-rivals away in the league since the Candystripes entered the league in 1985. Goals from BJ Banda and Michael Funston – the latter since retired – earned Harps a famous victory at Maginn Park, although it should be noted that far from inspiring the team to kick on, they lost their next five games without scoring a goal and conceding 13.

Star Player: Paddy McCourt

After Dundalk and Derry City passed on the former Celtic winger, following an undistinguished spell with Irish League side Glenavon, it was easy to presume McCourt may have played his last game of senior football. Instead, the Derry Pele opted to make the short trip west to link up with Ollie Horgan and, despite carrying more than a few extra pounds early in the season, McCourt's class was plain to see as he set up a goal with one of his first touches away to Bray Wanderers. Horgan has continually praised McCourt's professionalism as he's played through multiple niggling injuries during the club's annual injury crisis and, it needs to be stressed, the midfielder offers something no other player in the league can.

Surprise star player: Caolan McAleer

It's safe to say not an awful lot of people knew about McAleer before the Strabane man signed with Harps in January, having last played in the Scottish second tier with Greenock Morton. McAleer doesn't look like the most imposing player but his pace and his skill are impressive for this level, while he's managed to chip in a couple of goals (as well as eight yellow cards!) Harps have a reputation for functional, direct football but in McAleer they have a player who can stretch teams in other ways and make space for the likes of McCourt and Sean Houston to get the ball down and play.

Young player: Ciaran O'Connor

Initially signed on loan until the end of June, Ollie Horgan will be hoping Dundalk manager Stephen Kenny is happy with his striking options and allows an extension to the end of the season, as the elder O'Connor brother (younger brother Mikey plays for Shamrock Rovers) has been a constant threat and thorn in the side of the league's defenders. While his goal tally of five is on the low side for a striker, O'Connor's ability to lead the line on his own and make chances for himself is invaluable for a team at the wrong end of the table.

Star signing: Ciaran O'Connor

While McCourt and McAleer are both good shouts as they've allowed Harps to play a more modern brand of football and surprise supposedly superior opponents as a result, what Ollie Horgan needs more than anything right now is results and O'Connor is the man who has provided them thusfar – he can only hope he gets the green light to keep him in Ballybofey.

What they need to do in the transfer market

Simply put, Harps need bodies. They've lost Thomas McMonagle and Mickey Funston already, the former moving on to find more regular football and the latter retiring, while BJ Banda is likely to miss the rest of the season with a serious injury. Danny Morrissey has also spent a lot of time out, first with injury and now with a three-game ban, so Horgan has been forced to name fewer than the seven players allowed on the bench on a few occasions. Horgan is essentially limited to players living locally and the Ulster Senior League finishing up could offer a couple of possibilities. Otherwise, he may look to use the loan market again.

Where we see them finishing

It's going to go all the way to the wire for Finn Harps as they look to escape the brutal three-team relegation zone and much depends on whether he can maintain a fit squad and, particularly, on whether he can keep hold of Ciaran O'Connor. If he goes, Harps could find the goals dry up again and it won't take long to slip back down the table.