Finn Harps 1965 By Bartley Ramsay

In the Donegal Democrat February 26: Harps stop Kilmacrennan’s winning streak. “In a challenge game played in Ballybofey on Sunday, Kilmacrennan suffered their first defeat in seven matches.  Kilmacrennan took the lead in the first half through Michael Cullen.  Harps made some positional switches and scored three goals in quick sucession.  McDaid got another goal back but the game finished three goals to two to Harps.”

Donegal News May 22: Harps drew Letterkenny Rovers in the Letterkenny Summer cup.  I cannot find a match report for this game, but am assuming Harps lost. Letterkenny were mentioned in the latter stages of this competition.

In the Donegal News on June 19 came the shocking news that the referee at the Finn Harps v Kildrum Tigers game, played in the Convoy Cup, had collapsed and died during the game.   “The game had only been twenty five minutes in progress at the time Charles Toner of Townspark, Convoy, collapsed.   Play was halted and the game was abandoned”.  Charles Toner was described as “he had been a regular referee in charge of soccer games in the competition for the past two years. He was recognised as a conscientious official.  He had never been ill and was an active referee.  He leaves a wife and four children.”

Donegal Democrat 6 August: Finn Harps drew with Swilly Rovers in the Convoy Association Football Knock-Out Cup.   This was a quarter final tie and Harps led by two goals to one at half-time.  Swilly Rovers drew level, before Harps scored again.  The equaliser for Swilly came in the dying minutes. Scorers for Harps were K. McNulty, N. McNulty and McHugh.  Swilly Rovers goals were H. Wade (2) and Joe Duffy.   The referree was Jim Barclay (Convoy).

Donegal Democrat 20 August:  Finn Harps were defeated 1-0 by Swilly Rovers in the replay of their quarter final in Orchard Park. It was said “Finn Harps were not at full strength for the game.”

Donegal News 24 October: Harps faced Swilly in the FAI Junior Cup at Swilly Park.   In what was a shock it was Harps who won the game by a goal to nil.  The match report reads “Swilly pounded round the Finn goals almost from the start to finish, but they could not beat goalkeeper Paudge McGowan, who struck peak form.  He was helped by the dallying home forwards. But McGowan was the outstanding man of the day. When Barclay, in a breakaway goal for Finn there were still twenty minutes to play. But it was insufficent to waken Swilly forwards to the need for more dash and power. They ended up out of the cup.  Best for Finn Harps were their half back line of Fergus McNulty, McHugh and Quinn.”

Donegal Democrat 17 December:  Moville Celtic defeated Finn Harps 6-1 in the final of the Donegal area of the FAI Junior Cup at Ballybofey on Sunday.   Harps held the Celtic team to 2-1 at half time, but their defence went to pieces in the second half and Celtic scored four goals.