HAVING BEEN one of the stars of the double-winning Finn Harps Under-17s in 2018, Joel Bradley-Walsh wants to keep progressing at Finn Park.
The teenager, now a student at Letterkenny Institute of Technology, has already featured on first-team squads at Harps this season.
With the Under-19 League of Ireland season at a close, Bradley-Walsh will play in the bmcsports.ie Ulster Senior League with the Finn Harps Reserves over the winter months. On Sunday, he netted one of the goals in a 2-0 away win at Derry City.
“We have some very big games coming up,” he said.
“Hopefully we can give it a rattle this year.
“We have a load of under-17s coming up as well and it’s important for them.
“We might get a run at it. We’ll give it a good go.
“My first Ulster Senior League game last year, I noticed a massive difference. Things like experience are massive.
“It’s a big step and things like letting a game run out will come with experience. We’re starting to get used to it.”
Bradley-Walsh scored against Shamrock Rovers last year in a 3-0 win that secured the U17 League title for Harps. In the history of the club, it was a seismic day and one he and his team-mates want to build on.
He has trained at times with Ollie Horgan’s first team and a place there remains the ultimate goal and the dream.
He said: “I’m loving my football at the moment.
“Hopefully the break doesn’t come too quick. I’m looking forward to playing in the Ulster Senior League now and then I’ll get back into the Airtricity League again next season.
“I’m in training with the first team sometimes. I just want to stay in around there and maybe get a chance here and there next season. We have loads of players coming through at Harps. We have to wait patiently for the chance to come.”
Central defender Bradley-Walsh had a colossal game on his debut for Letterkenny Institute of Technology on Tuesday as they defeated IT Carlow ‘B’ 3-2. The win got LyIT back to winning ways after a 1-0 loss to Tallaght the previous week.
He said: “It was important to bounce back again. We have a good team here now and it was good to get three points.
“I was very happy with my performance on my debut. Hopefully there’s more to come.”
Harps head for an in-form Bonagee United on Saturday in their latest assignment in the bmcsports.ie Ulster Senior League.
Bradley-Walsh is predicting a stern test.
He said: “Going to Bonagee is always hard. They’ll have a strong panel. We’d probably fear them more than any other team.”
RESULTS
bmcsports.ie Ulster Senior League
Derry City Reserves 0 Finn Harps Reserves 2
FAI Intermediate Cup
Bonagee United 1 Fanad United 1 (Bonagee win 4-2 on pens)
Cockhill Celtic 2 Letterkenny Rovers 0
FIXTURES
bmcsports.ie Ulster Senior League
Saturday, October 26, 7.30pm
Bonagee United v Finn Harps Reserves
Sunday, October 27, 2pm
Derry City Reserves v Letterkenny Rovers
Fanad United v Cockhill Celtic
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