Two games into the season and Finn Harps fans know a couple of things for certain. Their third game (Friday night’s clash with Galway United) can, even at this early stage, be bracketed into critical match territory.
And Anthony Buttimer failed them badly at the Carlisle Grounds last weekend.
Not that a referee should be there to either fail or favour but there’s no doubt that key decisions went against the visitors – not least the one where goalkeeper, Ciaran Gallagher, emerged at the wrong end of a clash of heads (not that there’s ever any right end) and was down and close to out when Bray netted a crucial score.
By Paddy Walsh
Much talk in all contact sports about the importance of players who receive knocks to the head getting immediate treatment but Buttimer allowed play to continue and Gary McCabe duly took advantage.
A hugely debatable penalty awarded to Bray and one not given to Harps early on when Sean Houston appeared – more than appeared – to be impeded in the box added to the sense of injustice on the night. I read a match report in one of the Dublin papers and there wasn’t a mention of any measure of controversy. It could have been written by Buttimer himself.
But Harps cannot point all fingers at the match official. Conceding five goals, away or home – even if two of them were suspect – is hardly the stuff of staying up though that criticism has to be balanced out with the fact that this Harps team and its new personnel will take time to settle into a system.
And, of course, there’s the positive of scoring three on their travels – something they failed to do in any one away game all last season and only managed once in Ballybofey against Sligo Rovers.
This weekend’s opponent, Galway, arrive with a similar pointless record from their opening two fixtures – making the game hugely significant for both sides.
Home advantage might just be enough to swing it for Ollie Horgan’s men but the visitors will equally be well aware of what’s at stake.
JIM WHO?
Has Rory Gallagher injected a sense of his own identity and personality into his Donegal team? Recent performances, and results, would appear to back up the suggestion and with a youthful influx into the panel, and the departure of a reservoir of experience, he finally has a panel he can call his own as opposed to one he inherited.
Last Saturday night’s performance in Cavan, albeit against a team that hasn’t risen to any great heights in their opening fixtures, provided another measure of proof of a forward momentum and while it may not yet be a gallop, there seems to be a growing confidence within the ranks that the pace is progressive and Donegal certainly won’t be visiting any Division Two venues next year.
Rory Gallagher
That eight point win over the Breffni Men was achieved with comfort and composure and some excellent scores from one of the new kids on the block, Ciaran Thompson, five points in total, and a goal at the start of the second half from another of them, Eoin McHugh.
The true test of this Donegal team’s progress and credentials will come – indeed already has come against the Dubs – with Saturday week’s clash against Tyrone in Ballybofey.
St. Patrick’s Weekend and with that long running unbeaten record at MacCumhaill Park firmly intact, I’d be fairly confident that it will still be green for go as Gallagher’s squad continues preparations for the real business ahead.
MISSING THE MARK
During a generally disappointing European Indoors for the Irish athletes – though I’d certainly be encouraged by the two young women who reached the semi-finals of the 60 metres including 17 year old Ciara Neville and team-mate, Phil Healy who may be ultimately destined for glory in the 200 metres – there was more than one reference to Mark English during the R.T.E. coverage.
A promotional trailer for the event, run in the weeks before, had asked if the Irish participants could surpass the Letterkenny man’s silver medal from the last Euros.
Not to be and, frankly, never likely to be.
Injury deprived English of another big medal in Belgrade while the absence of Thomas Barr was another adversity the Irish camp could have done without.
But here’s a puzzler that’s been posed in these quarters before?
There was her coach, Jerry Kiernan, sitting in the R.T.E. studio in Dublin while his prodigy, Ciaran Mageean was taking part in the 1,500 metres and subsequently dropping out half-way through the Final.
Where’s the logic in that? Your coach nowhere to be seen except on Skype when surely his physical presence and words of advice might never be more needed?
It’s not that the Kerryman is averse to travelling. During the athletics coverage, he and presenter, Peter Collins, got to chatting about the second leg of the Champions League clash between Barcelona and P.S.G. for which the bold Kieran, a self-confessed Barca nut, had acquired tickets a couple of months previously.
Was he still going after the 4-0 first leg hammering, he was asked? No good wasting the precious tickets and sure you never know, Jerry basically responded.
Aye, you never do……
The best and most dramatic comeback in European football they’re hailing it.
But then they probably hadn’t heard of a Finn Harps match back in the ‘87/’88 season when they were 4-1 down to Drogheda United with less than twenty minutes to go in Ballybofey and recovered to win 5-4…!
From Blue Camp to Nou Camp.
LIGHTS….ACTION…..ER….
What a start to life at Maginn Park for Derry City. Unbeaten but a few light bulbs away from a decent opening.
Not what the grounds staff or City needed in their first outing this season at the venue and certainly not what visitors, Limerick F.C., would have wanted, given the distance they had to travel – and will have to again for the re-arranged fixture.
Not altogether surprising that the likes of Dermot Keely decried the floodlight failure as representing a bad image for the League of Ireland.
But even the English Premiership and other top flight leagues haven’t been immune to such hazards in the past.
Though a repeat of last Friday night’s events at any stage during the season will surely have the Candystripes re-thinking the temporary cross-border move.
TAKING A ‘SHANE’ TO GAELIC FOOTBALL
Shane Williams was interviewed at the weekend and suggested that Gaelic football should be introduced to the U.K. as a worthy addition to sporting life there.
News for you, Shane, Gaelic Games does have a presence – look at London in the Allianz National League – in England and elsewhere across the water. But you can see what he means. He was speaking after his brief spell in the colours of Glenswilly – the dedication and commitment of the amateur players genuinely impressing the former Welsh Rugby Union – I was going to say ‘giant’ – ace.
I’ve always said that the game deserves a much wider international audience and participation. But then we might end up with a posse of prima donnas, the like of which occupy the soccer leagues of this world and who needs any more of them?
Shane Williams
Meanwhile, the ‘Irish Independent’ weekend magazine previewed a repeat of ‘The Toughest Trade’ last Saturday with the following few words: “Former Welsh rugby international, Shane Williams, tried his hand at Gaelic football.”
You may have noticed something missing there. Like any reference whatsoever to Michael Murphy who, in the same programme, was trying his hand at the oval ball game. No doubt, the Indo wouldn’t have neglected to mention it if it had been Michael Darragh Macauley, Dean Rock, or Diarmuid Connolly taking part.
PARISH PASSIONS
In the latest edition of ‘The Irish Voice’ – a Scottish based publication – Jonathan Foley offers a praiseworthy piece in the travel section on his home county of Donegal.
He refers to the strong links with Glasgow Celtic with many Scots coming here believing that every man, woman and child is a “loud and proud faithful” of the Hoops.
But, the writer reminds any visitors, they shouldn’t be dismayed if some locals profess a greater love for Gaelic Games, “particularly football but with some hurling enclaves.”
Foley adds: “Places such as Gweedore, Annagry and Gortahork would have strong Celtic connections for sure, but by and large, their G.A.A. affiliations – as with most other parts of the county – will take centre stage with regard to sport talk over the summer. And getting along to a game is dead handy.
“A lot of locally based clubs are bustling with midweek and weekend games for adults and children alike during the summer months. A local will certainly be glad to inform you of the parish club you could pop along to spectate at. And which rival parish you should certainly not cheer on!.”
Indeed. For when it comes to local rivalry in the parishes, even Celtic and Rangers can’t match it for intensity and tribal passions.
And, apart from all that, there appears to be only one team in Scottish football these times – as opposed to the good old days when there were two….
IRELAND AND WALES SEEK CLOSURE
Both the Irish and Welsh Rugby Unions have agreed to close the roof for Friday night’s match at the Principality Stadium, Two things. Let’s hope (a) the Irish performance will help raise it and (b) Welsh voices will be shut as tight as it at the end.
Of course, some of us will be at Finn Park and consequently will miss all the action from Cardiff.
The better half wanted to know the other day why they couldn’t have opted to change the game to Saturday night. But apparently the rugger authorities weren’t amenable to it…..
MEETING UP
Reading updates from the Europa League tie between FC Rostov and Manchester United on Thursday evening and the B.B.C. summariser suggests the ball is spending more time in the air than it is on the ground which prompts a reminder of one of the great quotes in League of Ireland football.
Previewing a match back in the mists when his Finn Harps were preparing to face Bray Wanderers, then manager, Patsy McGowan said while his charges liked to play the ball on the ground, the Carlisle Grounds outfit preferred it in the air.
“In fact,” declared McGowan, “the two teams mightn’t even meet.”
LATE SPORTS UPDATE
Excuse the delay in getting this week’s offering out in the open but I should say that next week’s column will be even later. In fact, it won’t be here at all as this is the final Walshy on Wednesday.
My thanks to anyone who took the trouble to read it over the 124 weeks of its existence and whether you enjoyed it or were annoyed by it (orderly queue there, please) it was great having you along.
Sporting good wishes to you all.
