Ollie Horgan: 'There was certainly energy and drive there from both sides'

Picking up at point away to Longford Town on Tuesday night was something that pleased Finn Harps manager Ollie Horgan. Over the years Town and Harps have had tough battles at the Midlands venue.

Horgan admitted how his sides have struggled down through the years away to Longford Town.

He said: “Because it’s a proper club and a proper team. That’s why we find it tough. We’ve had great battles in both divisions. We got something out of it. In fairness to Longford, they’ve come off a fabulous; losing in the 93rd minute in Tallaght.

"We can’t really feel sorry for us having lost by a mistake in Sligo when you see what Longford and the way they picked it up.

"Huge credit to Daire (Doyle) and John (Martin) for the way they put their side out tonight. They made a few changes but they’d huge energy and drive in them.”

The Harps boss was happy with the energy and drive he saw from his side throughout the game.

“It was a very honest game; for a midweek game. Sometimes over the years they might have been lowkey, without energy and drive. There was certainly energy and drive there from both sides.

Every header, every tackle was properly contested. There wasn’t a bad tackle in the game. I think both sides should take great credit out of the way they played. There was no score in it; it was actually a decent 0-0 draw. If you want to call it that.”

Harps enjoyed a lot of possession and created chances but were unable to find a way past Town keeper Mick Kelly. Horgan felt the first goal could’ve settled the contest.

“It’s fine margins. I think whoever was going to score first was going to go on and win it; it didn’t happen. A draw down here is a good result. It’s a difficult place to come to. Over the years we’ve had ups and down. We didn’t concede, we didn’t get beaten and we’ll take the positives.



A point away in Longford; before the game we would’ve taken that. That’s what we got.”

Unfortunately for Harps they picked up injuries on Tuesday night with Shane McEleney and Ethan Boyle having to limp off. Although they weren’t assessed properly the Harps boss believed they would be out for a number of weeks.

He said: “Unfortunately we picked up a few. They don’t look great; maybe look a number of weeks and we’ve already added to a few. That’s part of it. That’s the midweek game, that’s what cost us. We’ve probably a bigger panel than we’ve had for a while. But you need it.”

Harps face St. Pat’s at home on Friday evening. The Inchicore side are level on points at the top of the table with Shamrock Rovers and Sligo Rovers.

Horgan said: “ We play Pat’s on Friday, of all teams. Probably the form team. They keep possession that well also. It’s a difficult one to have after playing here on a Tuesday night. So be it. It’s good to be chatting about Pat’s and playing them on Friday night.”





 



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