Harps U19s facing Bohs battle at Finn Park

The Finn Harps U19 side is back in action this Saturday with a home game in the Northern Section against Bohemians in Ballybofey (kick-off 2.00). Joe Boyle’s side has secured qualification for the knockout stages but the manager wants his team to finish either first or second, which would guarantee them a game at Finn Park in the next phase of the National League competition. Boyle has a fully fit squad to choose from but he won’t have any of the U17 squad who are in action at the same time this Saturday against St. Patrick’s Athletic in Killygordon.
Following a hectic schedule of matches against Sligo Rovers and Shelbourne, the U19s were free last weekend without a fixture. Joe Boyle says his side will face a tricky assignment against Graham Lawlor’s Bohemians this Saturday at Finn Park. “It will provide a stern test for the Harps players as they reflect on the reverse fixture in Dublin earlier in the season. That was another excellent match that we took all points from following a difficult first half.”
It was the introduction of Gareth Doherty for the second half that turned the match in Harps favour. “The match swung in our favour with the introduction of Gareth Doherty. He made a telling impact in the second half. His performance on that afternoon was one of the highlights of the season thus far” Boyle said.
Since then Harps have secured a play-off place. “It is now entering a key stage of the season where every point or three points are critical to the teams looking for places in the play-off and the likes of ourselves who are pushing to try and make sure of a home draw in the knockout stages.”
Joe Boyle is pleased that all his players have reported fit for Saturday afternoon’s clash. “The weekend without a fixture afforded those players who were carrying knocks extra time to recover and an opportunity to freshen up for the Bohemians game.” The game at Finn Park has a 2.00 kick-off.