‘Sligo were the better side’ says Harps manager
FINN HARPS SLIGO ROVERS 1 0
FINN Harps manager Ollie Horgan said he gladly would have taken a draw on Friday night as he felt his side were hanging on by a thread towards the end of the game.
Karl O’Sullivan’s 56th minute goal proved to be enough to see Harps earn all three points on the opening day of the season, but Horgan feels that his side still have a long way to go.
“I think performance wise it could have been a lot better. That’s not taking anything away from Sligo. Sligo were by far the better side in the second half. They had us pinned back, physically, football wise, fitness wise, we couldn’t get out of our own half and that’s a credit to them,” Horgan said afterwards.
He added: “We were hanging on by a thread, Ronan Murray’s chance at the end. Had they equalised it would have been a fair result. We would have taken it, to be honest.
“We went 14 games last year until we got a win so I’m glad, we’ll take it. We’ve had better performances here and got nothing out of it. You’ll take that. Sligo will without doubt feel hard done that they didn’t get a draw, if not won it.”
Horgan fielded five debutants on Friday night, while Buckley went with four. The Harps boss felt that the visitors looked more settled, due to the fact they have retained so many of last year’s players.
“We weren’t great. There’s no point saying any different. Sligo were the better side to be fair to them. They’re probably a more settled side. If you take the likes of Garry Buckley and Darragh Noone there, the Teemu boy at left wing back. The rest of them had been there last year, they had 40 games together and you could see that. They came at us in waves and waves. It’s one game out of 36 and I’m sure Sligo won’t be one bit worried with 35 more games to come.”
Karl O’Sullivan missed an opportunity to score a goal on Friday night that was a carbon copy of his two against Rovers in the FAI Cup in 2019. Horgan praised the Kerry youngster, whose first goal for the club earned all three points.
“He made a run the same as he did against Sligo in the cup, I was there that day, I saw him. He didn’t finish it tonight. He’s as honest as the day is long. He’s a Kerry kid that came up here via Limerick if you like. He’s a lot to do, he has a lot to learn. He’s only a kid. He will get better. He’ll have bad days that he will learn from and he’ll have good days like today.”
Prior to kick-off, Harps announced the signature of striker Cameron Saul.
Horgan says that’s his squad complete for the season.
“Lord, we’d love to get one or two more in but no we’re lucky to squeeze another one in. We’re delighted to get him over the line. That’s us. We’ll sink or swim.”
Raffaele Cretaro featured for 70 minutes on Friday night, having re-signed with Harps despite initially considering retirement. Horgan is hopeful that he can convince the 38-year-old to stay for another year after this.
“Raff is a brilliant man first and foremost. You see what he gives on the pitch. But what he gives off the pitch is equally as good if not better. I’m delighted that we managed to persuade him to give this another year and maybe two, to put it that way. It’s a great day for him. I think he had hung up the boots at one stage but it’s only one game.
“There will be highs and lows, please god there will be highs and lows and we don’t drift away and stay in the fight until the end like we did last year. I’m not saying we will survive in any manner but so long as we don’t drift away and fall away early, as could have happened last year but a little bit of luck went our way and the fact that UCD lost players, we managed to peg them back.
“The likes of Shelbourne have come up, it’s a much more difficult league. We have to get better.”