Afternoon everyone, I would like to take this opportunity to welcome Athlone Town FC
management, players and supporters to Finn Park this Saturday afternoon. Today marks the end of
our home games this season at Finn Park. We have one more game away to Bray Wanderers next
week to end the campaign. It has been a challenging season this year especially at home where we
have had some disappointing results but we have also had a few memorable nights too. I would like
to take this opportunity to thank the fans who have come to support us at Finn Park all year. It has
been greatly appreciated by all the players and staff. On a personal note, this has been my first
experience working in League of Ireland football and I can honestly say I have been overwhelmed by
the support that I have received by the people of Donegal. I understand each fans frustration as I
know they just want their team to be successful nut even with all these frustrations they have stuck
by their team week in and week out and that tells me that they have so much passion for the club.
This year again has been another tough season following the relegation from the premiership in
2022 and the departure of Ollie Horgan who spent nine years as a manager at this football club.
Also, Congratulations to Ollie and John Caulfield on their title success. There was a bright start to
2023 with the new appointment of Dave and the hopes of the new stadium being started. Fast
forward ten months, the new stadium has yet to be finalised. It is still a work in progress and also
the tenure of Dave’s time in charge has come to an end. That’s enough of the doom and gloom and
time to look back at some of the positives from this season. Oisín Cooney and Aaron McLaughlin
have both represented Ireland at under 17 level this year. Daithí McCallion has represented
Northern Ireland at under 19 level this year. We have also had numerous players from the Academy
progress with the first team and make their debut this year. This might not be the progress that all
Finn Harps supporters wanted to see but it’s a small step in the right direction for the future of this
football club. The new manager of Finn Harps will have the opportunity to work with a number of
talented players who have had a year’s experience at senior football. When you look at the progress
of the like of O’Donnell, Jordan, McLaughlin and Cooney to name a few, it will hopefully give the new
manager a sense of excitement. Finally, as the interim manager of this football club I would like to
thank my coaching staff, the players, the board and the supporters for their support over this last
five weeks. To anyone else that has come across my path in the last twelve months, all I can say is
Thank You for making me feel so welcome and at home in Ballybofey.
Dream Big, Work Hard, Stay Humble, enjoy the game. Go raibh mile maith agat. Murph.