Horgan: 'This is the biggest battle we will face in my time here'

Ollie Horgan has admitted he is facing the “biggest battle” in his time as manager of Finn Harps, who open their SSE Airtricity League Premier Division campaign next week with practically a new squad.

Harps survived in the top flight last season, winning their final outing of the campaign 5-0 against Longford Town in front of a crowd in the region of 3,500 at Finn Park. However, since then, their squad was decimated and Horgan has had to put in overtime over the close season to put a new one together ahead of the visit of Drogheda United on Friday week, February 18.

“We came in ninth place in the Premier Division last season and we’re looking to maintain that position,” Horgan, who took over as Harps manager in 2013, said. “Like, for example, Shamrock Rovers won the title last season and if they lost almost an entire team, could you say for sure they would retain the trophy this year? I don’t think you could.”

Tunde Owolabi in the colours of St Patrick's Athletic

In the close-season, Shane McEleney rejoined Derry City, Mark Coyle, Sean Boyd and Daniel Hawkins joined Shelbourne, Tunde Owolabi went to St Patrick’s Athletic and Drogheda United picked up Adam Foley.

Karl O’Sullivan penned a deal with Sligo Rovers, Jordan Mustoe is with Belgian club Patro Eisden Maasmechelen, while Will Seymore and Kosovar Sadiki moved to New Mexico United in the USL Championship and Italy’s Serie C Virtus Entella respectively.

As well as that Stephen Doherty went out on loan with Institute in the Irish League, as did goalkeeper Patrick McGarvey, in his case to Dergview FC.

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Gavin Dykes, the former Harps and Sligo Rovers captain, who managed clubs such as Derry City, Ballinamallard and Warrenpoint, has been alongside Horgan for Harps’ pre-season encounters of late, while Paul Hegarty has not. Goalkeeper Gerard Doherty has taken up a coaching role with Harps.

“This is definitely the biggest battle we will face in my time at the club,” Horgan added. “I was expecting to lose a few players - maybe four of five - but it was much more than that. I must stress, we didn’t ask one single player to leave nor tell them that they were not part of our plans, but due to our relative success last season - we didn’t win anything remember - clubs have come in for them and by and large, they’ve got good offers.

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From last year’s regulars, Mark Anthony McGinley, captain Dave Webster, Ethan Boyle, Barry McNamee and Ryan Connolly are part of the 2022 squad.

They have been joined by Croatian forward Filip Mihaljević, Dutch-born Turkish defender Erol Erdal Alkan, Spanish defender José Carrillo and Madagascar international midfielder Bastien Héry.

Former Shelbourne and UCD frontman Yoyo Mahdy has signed for the Ballybofey club, as has goalkeeper Gavin Mulreany from Donegal Town FC, Letterkenny Rovers’ Conor Tourish, while Regan Donelon rejoined Harps from Sligo Rovers and Jesse Devers is also back in Ballybofey.

Harps face Longford Town on Saturday in their final outing of pre-season, having drawn 1-1 with Cork City, Sligo Rovers and Cob Ramblers already, as well as beating Treaty United 2-0 and losing 1-0 against Galway United.

“Some might say it’s been impossible but we have a squad together now and I’m happier now with things than I was some weeks ago,” Horgan added. “It will take time and this is a competitive league- and I’m not making excuses or being negative when I say that - but the lads who are here want to be here and you have to credit them for that.

“We start the league season next week, we have a squad in place, and then we’ll see where we’re at. Look, we're looking forward now with the squad that we have and let’s be honest, it’s good to still be talking about being a Premier Division club.”