Dave Rogers expects to add Finn Harps reinforcements in coming weeks 

Dave Rogers admits that his struggling Finn Harps side needs to add a little bit of guile and experience when the July transfer window opens. 

After a disappointing 0-0 home draw with basement outfit Kerry FC on Friday, Harps were then stuffed 6-0 away to runaway League of Ireland First Division winners Galway United on Monday night.

It’s glaringly obvious that Harps need reinforcements and the manager explains he’s working hard to make that happen.

“July 1 is only three weeks away and we’re working hard on getting quality lads in the door,” said the former Nottingham Forest U-21 boss. “We need more players and we need a better quality of players to help the young lads. We are close on a few things - a few favours called in from some of my contacts back in the UK. 

“We have Stephen Doherty and Patrick Ferry already on board and they’ll make a big difference”. 

Galway United really put Finn Harps to the sword at Eamonn Deacy Park with most of the damage done early on.

Darren Clarke, Killian Brouder, Stephen Walsh and Maurice Nugent scored in the opening 20 minutes to put the home side 4-0 in front, with Rob Manley and David Hurley netting after the break to complete the rout.

Rogers admits the early intentions were to keep things really tight but those ambitions evaporated more or less straight away.  

“The first 20 minutes killed us. The last few words of advice we gave to the boys before we went out was to keep it tight and not to give away stupid freekicks the first 20 to 25 minutes.

“But we gave away a sloppy freekick after just a minute and we’re a goal down after three minutes. After 15 minutes it’s game over. Galway are a fantastic side - string, physical and productive with the way they play. 

“It was like men against boys. And that’s what we said to the lads in the dressing room there, they need to grow up quickly. If we don’t face the challenge head on, they’re going to have more games like the one just now against Galway.

“We’re still creating chances and half chances. Sean O’Donnell went through and stung the hands of the goalkeeper. I’m not going to come out and have a go at the players. They’re young, naive at this moment. They need to mature. 

“The older boys are taking the workload of that but this is senior football so they are going to have to mature really quickly. We’ll keep supporting them and backing them on the training field”. 

He added: “They have to stop gifting teams goals. We worked on that all week in training.  We told them Galway are very productive at putting crosses into the box. They’ll get it wide and they will put quality deliveries in there. But we have to defend that first ball.

“But it really was game over after just 15 or 20 minutes.

“We still played on the front foot. We don’t want the lads to just kick it long. It’s not what we’re about. We want to be positive and we want to play. But the fifth goal, we have possession, we gave the ball away and we got punished”. 

Next up for Finn Harps is another away trek this time to Longford Town on Friday night. Harps are locked on 18 points with Stephen Henderson’s men so a win would have the potential to see them leapfrog their weekend opponents. 

“Our fans, to clap the boys off like that, after travelling the distance they did and play good money; I can only apologise. We need to get back on the training ground and put things right. 

“We’ve another long journey on Friday night to Longford. I don’t know who came up with the fixtures. But we’ll take it on the chin and get on with it. The fans are with us - they’ll be there on Friday night too in Longford”.