Captain Keith Cowan signs back for 2019 as Finn Harps return to the top tier

Finn Harps defender Keith Cowan has signed a new contract with the club ahead of the Donegal side’s return to the Premier Division.

The 33-year-old captained Harps to promotion from the First Division in 2018 as they saw off Drogheda United and Limerick in the play-offs after finishing runners-up to UCD.

The Raphoe man missed out on the entirety of the Ballybofey side’s last season in the top tier after sustaining a bad knee injury against St Patrick’s Athletic in late 2016.

Ollie Horgan’s side were relegated to the second tier that season, but the Letterkenny schoolteacher returned in 2018, first as vice-captain and then as captain, to lead them back to the top tier.

“It’s good to have Keith back on board,” Horgan told the club’s official website.

“He was a real leader for us on the field last season. And it’s a credit to him the way he came back from the horrible knee injury that left him out of football for over a year.

“Keith’s experience is going to be vital to us in the Premier Division and it’s means we have another defender added to the squad because with so many matches we need  as much cover as possible.”

Harps continue to build steadily ahead of the new season, with defender Niall Logue making last year’s loan permanent, while top scorer Mikey Place and keeper Peter Burke have also signed.