As you may all be aware, myself and my good friend Joe Doherty, have published a new book, that features every player to have played a competitive game for Finn Harps. The Book was launched earlier this month and is now available in the following locations Alexanders in Ballybofey and Bookmark in Letterkenny Shopping Centre. If you email [email protected] we can also arrange to post one out to you.
This snapshot in time was taken on 28 March 1982. Unfortunately, I do not know the photographer who took it, as it was in a batch of press photographs I purchased in 2005. It was taken after a North-West Derby match when Sligo Rovers defeated Harps by two goals to one in Finn Park.
On that day three sets of brothers faced each other. Pictured here are Paddy Sheridan (Sligo Rovers) and Jim Sheridan (Finn Harps). The other brothers were the Eddie McGroarty (Finn Harps) and Jimmy McGroarty (Sligo Rovers) and Charlie McDermott (Finn Harps) and Liam McDermott (Sligo Rovers). The following season all six players would play in the colours of Finn Harps.
Jim Sheridan Jim signed for Finn Harps from St Patricks Athletic in the summer of 1970. He had previously played for Harps in their junior days. Jim first played League of Ireland football for Sligo Rovers in 1965 before signing for Longford Town, who were then in the Leinster Senior League. Jim then had a short spell at Coleraine, he was based in Carrick-on-Shannon at the time, and found it hard to get a regular starting place in the side. This led him to Swilly Rovers and he won the FAI Junior Cup medal with the Ramelton side in 1967. St Patrick’s Athletic then signed the Rathmullan man based on his displays during the Junior Cup. Whilst with Harps Jim picked up an FAI Senior cup medal, Dublin City Cup medal, three runners up medals in the League Championship, three times runner up in the Shield/League Cup competition, fourteen amateur international caps, all to go with the President’s Cup medal won with St Patrick’s Athletic. Jim was an ever present in Harps four European adventures. His greatest moment in his career was captaining Harps to the FAI Cup in 1974. Jim left Finn Harps in 1984 but later turned out for Sligo Rovers during an injury crisis in the Showgrounds. His son Jim’s namesake also played for Sligo Rovers and Athlone Town in the League of Ireland. Jim made Three hundred and ninety-seven appearances, scoring sixteen goals.
Paddy Sheridan made his debut for Harps in 1977. He joined Sligo Rovers in 1978 and spent four seasons at the Showgrounds. He returned to Harps in 1982 and spent the following three seasons at Finn Park. He then left to join Fanad United. Paddy made a total of fifty-eight appearances for Harps scoring on two occasions.
