Finn Harps lost for the first time in four matches as they remain in a nervy position near the bottom of the table. They suffered a home defeat at the hands of Shamrock Rovers who sit joint top of the table, level on points with Dundalk. Ronan Finn
Finn Harps lost for the first time in four matches as they remain in a nervy position near the bottom of the table. They suffered a home defeat at the hands of Shamrock Rovers who sit joint top of the table, level on points with Dundalk.
Ronan Finn grabbed an early goal with Rovers second coming courtesy of a Dylan Watts spot kick and Aaron Greene wrapped things up with late header as the hosts didn’t truly test Alan Mannus.
Manager Ollie Horgan, who has been with Harps since 2013, noted that there was no doubt who the better side was but was disappointed in the manner that his side conceded.
“I felt disappointed, yes they were the better side, they have a lot of quality and they are top of the league for a reason but I felt it was mistakes that cost us dearly,” he said.
“Would we have got anything out of it?” he asked.
“I don’t know, first goal, second goal and even the third goal, just poor decisions and poor mistakes,” he added in response to his question.
“The goals all looked avoidable from our point of view, although I’m not in any manner saying that we were unlucky."
Derry City had a number of spies lurking around Finn Park ahead of the upcoming North West Derbies in the league and Cup and Ollie noted that playing at the Brandywell is a huge task for any team.
“Going in there (Brandywell) is a huge advantage to them, the big pitch, the way they play,” he said.
“I saw them on Saturday, in the first half they were excellent and they should have put Sligo Rovers away.
“It will be a huge ask of us in there and I just felt we had an opportunity here tonight at home, albeit Shamrock Rovers to get something, it’s probably more difficult going to the Brandywell.
“So be it, we have to try and get recovered here and get sorted for Friday,” he concluded.
