IT WAS SINN FEIN County Councillor Gary Doherty who best summed up the success of the 62-year existence of Finn Harps Football Club.
This evening, the elected representatives of Donegal County Council accorded Finn Harps with a Civic Reception, in honour of their contribution to soccer since their formation in 1954.
Picture caption: Finn Harps players and management with former team manager Patsy McGowan and former club captain Jim Sheridan at a Civic Reception in Lifford.
Harps’ history has not always been straightforward.
More often than not, theirs has been a tale of survival.
Club Secretary, John Campbell, acknowledged the previous assistance of the County Council, whose passing of a motion to give the club grant aid to the tune of €20,000 effectively kept the club afloat just five years ago, in November 2011.
Last season, Harps won promotion back into the Premier Division for the first time since 2008.
This evening, the Ballybofey-based club was honoured at the County House in Lifford.
There were pointers to the past with founder member and former manager Patsy McGowan and 1974 FAI Cup-winning captain Jim Sheridan among the audience.
Deborah Fields, the daughter of legendary Finn Harps Chairman Fran Fields, was in attendance with her son, Louis, whose co-option onto the Board of Directors last night returned the family name to the club.
“It’s important to recognise the work that went in to establishing the club,” Councillor Doherty said.
[adrotate group=”38″]“People here had vision to say that we could have had a senior team in Doegal. Down the country, people laughed. We still have a strong Finn Harps.
The promotion night was a joy to behold.”
On one never-to-be-forgotten November night, BJ Banda’s now-iconic extra-time header against Limerick FC saw Harps reach for the stars once more and Ollie Horgan’s team had made a decent start to their campaign before League champions Dundalk inflicted a painful 7-0 defeat on the residents of Navenny Street on Friday night.
The motion to accord Harps with the Civic Reception was tabled by the Stranorlar Municipal Group, which is chaired by Independent Councillor Frank McBrearty Junior.
“They have started off well and have shut a few peoples’ mouths up, people who thought that they wouldn’t get results,” Councillor McBrearty said.
[adrotate group=”50″]Ballybofey-based Fine Gael Councillor Martin Harley, who wore a Finn Harps scarf to the function, said: “Finn Harps are making great strides. The way forward is to bring the club up through the ranks.
“There has been some great nights at Finn Harps down the years and we’ll continue to have more great nights.”
Fianna Fail Councillor Patrick McGowan and Independent Councillor Ian McGarvey, who captained Swilly Rovers to the FAI Junior Cup in 1962, also addressed the reception.
The Civic Reception was hosted by the Mayor of Donegal, Councillor Ciaran Brogan.
“The Council has a very close relationship with Finn Harps and we’ve always worked hand-in-hand,” Councillor Brogan said.
[adrotate group=”51″]“We see the importance of sport in the county. Where we can we work hard to promote sport and we know that Finn Harps has played a huge role in developing sport. We appreciate the development of and the leadership of Finn Harps. You are ambassadors to the county.
“This is a very special time for Finn Harps. We are lucky to have a man like Ollie Horgan at the coalface because he puts football first. A rising tide lifts all boats and there will be many more great days ahead for Finn Harps.”
The CEO of Donegal County Council, Seamus Neely, added: “The catalyst for the reception has been the promotion to the Premier Division.
[adrotate group=”62″]“That was the catalyst, but it was also an opportunity to honour the service and the value of the club. It has grown to become one of Donegal’s most loved sporting institutions.”
Finn Harps Chairman Sean Quinn and Secretary John Campbell spoke on behalf of the club.
Manager Ollie Horgan, a large number of players and Finn Harps Academy Director Trevor Scanlon, as well as club officials and supporters, were among a big crowd who packed into the Council chamber.
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