Reality check for Harps, but Scully contented

For the first time in a long time there was a real sense of optimism at Finn Park on Saturday night – but the 568 fans parted into the soaking Ballybofey night having witnessed what player-manager Peter Hutton termed a 'reality check' for his side.

After a difficult couple of seasons, Harps entered Saturday with a feeling that things were on the rise again. Last week in Longford was the first time in two seasons that Harps had come from behind to win.

And the recent 2-0 win in Waterford was the first time in two years that Harps had recorded back-to-back wins.

Now, though, they're back down to fifth in a Division that is likely to have quite the number of twists to it.

“We are starting to click and starting to get some form now. We have to make sure that we push on,” said Limerick boss Pat Scully, who is guided the clear bookies favourites to win the title.

“It's always tight. The First Division is never easy. We know what we're up against in this Division. We'll take care of ourselves and not worry about anyone else. Our last three performances have been very good, hopefully can continue that.”

Scully felt that his side bossed Saturday's game.

“I thought that we completely controlled the match and played some great football. We were a little wasteful and should have done better with some other chances that we had.

“We were sloppy for the Harps goal, but when you make a mistake like that it's important that players re-focus – and that's exactly what we did.

“We did fantastically well in the second-half and deserved the three points.”

Just seventy seconds in, the optimism was diluted somewhat as Garbhan Coughlan kneed home from close range – only for a superb daisy cutter by Adam Clarke to ignite the spark again when he drilled superbly to the bottom corner in the sixth minute.

In the build-up, there were even a sprinkling of mind games.

Scully delivered a shot across the brow of Harps Director of Football Felix Healy in the week.

“Felix Healy called us an ordinary team after our first meeting,” he said.

“But our last few performances have been anything but ordinary. We played a great game against Wexford and the players are starting to set really good standards and it’s so important we keep demanding full commitment from ourselves.”

Second-half strikes by Shane Guthrie, a man with close connections to Castlefin, and Denis Behan handed Limerick a 3-1 win to wipe away the hope that had been growing in the Harps camp after a good month.

“Shaun Brosnan is very quick with those diagonal balls in behind people. It was a good cross in, great movement by Denis (Behan) and the finish by Garvin (Coughlan) was superb,” said Scully of his side's opening goal.

“We played really good football and had a couple of good chances that we could have been more ruthless with.

“They got their goal, but we didn't panic and kept passing it well. Joe Gamble and Steven Bradley were excellent in the middle and the only criticism I'd have of the players is that we could probably have scored more.

“We got the two in the second-half and I thought we played some brilliant stuff.”

Scully said last week that Harps away was 'one of the hardest' games in the year – while he noted Finn Park as 'a great football ground with real atmosphere'.

After Saturday's win, he was contented to get out of Finn Park with the maximum rewards.

He said: “They're a good team, Harps – and it's never easy coming up here.

“I've always been a great admirer of Kevin McHugh. He's a very intelligent player and Harps have some fantastic young players. It was very pleasing that we came up here and controlled the game the way we did.

“A lot of teams will come here and get nothing – so it's very good for us to get three points here.”