Wheel comes full circle for Michael Harris on Finn Harps debut

The previous time Michael Harris ran out at Finn Park with a Finn Harps shirt on his back, he was a mascot.

The young Harris was a regular on the terraces of Finn Park.

Until, that was, Derry City came calling in his teenage years.

The wheel came full circle for the 20-year-old Convoy man on Friday night. Harris was one of nine players handed their first Harps starts in a 2-1 defeat by Galway United.

As a new era dawned, 2,552 turned up on a drenching Ballybofey night for Dave Rogers' first game as the Harps manager.

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The surroundings were a far cry from the pre-Ollie Horgan years in the days when Harris was a supporter.

“It's some difference running out as a player,” Harris told Donegal Live.

“The fans can be like a 12th man here at Finn Park. They were going mental when we scored from the penalty. It was great to see it.

“I was here as a kid all the time and I know that the fans here can give us an extra push.”

Harris spent 2022 at Colorado Rapids 2 after turning down a professional deal at Derry City, whose under-19s he helped to Enda McGuill Cup glory in 2021. Harris scored the winning penalty in a shoot-out win over Bohemians at the Brandywell.

Jim McGuinness was a coach for that Candystripes side and was a close mentor for Harris, who was courted by clubs like Celtic and Stoke City.

In the winter, Harps opted to swap th MLS Next Pro Western Conference for the League of Ireland First Division.

“America was a great experience,” Harris said.

“It was nice to get away, but it's nice to be home at the same time.

“We're in nearly every day, some days twice. I'm loving it here. I'm buzzing in the group.

“People want to be here to play for this club. This is a long-term plan and this is only the start. We have a strong squad here and it's exciting to be a part of this.”

Rogers described the addition of Harris as a 'major coup'. The attacker was a sought after player, but elected to pen a two-year deal at Harps, where his brother, Jamie, is also on the books and currently recovering from an injury.

Harris said: “I want to play first team minutes. As soon as I sat down with Dave, I knew I wanted to be here. He's a great coach and you can see where he wants to take the club.

“The style of play Dave likes, I think, will suit me. He likes everyone to run all the time.

“The runs in behind are a big thing and there's no hoofing the ball with Dave. He likes us to play, to think forward and pass forward.”

Harps travel to Athlone Town on Friday night after going down at home to Galway. Ryan Rainey's penalty drew Harps level just before half-time, but a brace of goals by Vincent Borden gave Galway – who had ex-Harps manager Ollie Horgan, now the Tribesmen's assistant manager, in the dugout – the win.

“It was a difficult match, but I think we showed good character,” Harris said.

“We showed what we're capable of at different times in the match. The conditions were tough.

“There was plenty of encouragement. We have a lot of young players in the squad and a lot of players made their debuts.

“We will give the maximum effort all the time and I think the fans know that.”