This week in our series chatting with members of the Finn Harps first team we have last week’s match winner Gavin Gilmore.
Signed during last season, Gilmore has played for Galway United and Athlone Town in the past. Ryan Brolly caught up with him ahead of Friday’s game vs Longford Town.
You signed for Harps last summer in the middle of the 2024 campaign. What was the impact on joining the club during the middle of the season and making the step back into League of Ireland football?
Yeah I was buzzing when I signed for the club last summer, I was on trials with a few other league of Ireland clubs and a few clubs up the north too. When Murph gave me the call a few days after I played in a trial game against Cliftonville saying he wanted to sign me I was delighted.
To be honest, I knew about how big the club was from watching the league before and historically always being in the premier division and having a big fan base so when I got the offer it was a no brainer and an easy decision for me to get on board.
For me personally I didn’t have the impact that I probably had envisioned myself having, I had a good start my first few games but then I didn’t play for quite a good few run of games which was tough but that’s football, I just wanted to keep my head down trying to train well and when I got my chances try to impress. I got a few minutes towards the end of season and was happy enough with them and when Murph picked up the phone in the off season to resign me I was over the moon and just raring to get back in again for pre-season and kick on.
You opened your account on Friday with a late winner against Athlone. What did it feel like to get your first goal for the club against your former side in those circumstances?
Friday was a bit of a worldwind of emotions. I was warming up at half time and Tommy gave me the shout to get ready and I’m going in so I knew this was a big chance and I had to try take it with both hands.
I just tried to go on and express myself and get at the fullback and work hard tracking him back and when Gradi done well to win the ball back high up I was screaming for it.
The fullback gambled and missed the interception and when it fell to me I was just focusing on getting a clean first touch out of my feet to set myself and then it was just about muscle memory really.
The amount of finishing we do with Kev on the training ground and after finishing really helps as we practice all angles and scenarios so I was just trying to keep composure and get good contact and when I seen it hit the back of the net, best feeling in the world.
No feeling can beat scoring a goal and especially a late winner against my old club, I was with Athlone in the 2023 season and it didn’t really work out for me down there for one reason or another so to get one back on them and for it to be my first goal and a winner was such a special feeling.
And 2/3 of my best mates Eoin & Richard were at the game and I saw where they were standing whilst I was warming up at half time so when I scored there was only one place I was going to and was special to celebrate with them to share that moment with them and my teammates and more importantly a big win for us away from home.
How have the squad reacted to the change in the dugout?
As a group it all came as a big surprise to us when we heard the news of the gaffer leaving.
Murph done a great job for the club whilst he was here and me myself have a lot to be thankful of to Murph.
He gave me my first break in first team football so I’ll always appreciate that, but as a squad we had to move on quickly and had that tunnel vision straight away to be honest.
Them things happen in football all the time, we just shifted our focus straight to Athlone and build on the good performance the week prior.
Are there any personal goals or performance milestones you’d like to reach this season?
Yes, I have a lot of goals and ambitions that I wrote down from just before pre season started that I want to tick off both personally and collectively.
I have x amount of goals and assists I want to get to which I do before every season starts but I’ll keep them to myself for now.
I want to play a lot more than I did last season and properly effect games and take games by the scruff of the neck and have people and the fans of this club talking about me.
More importantly as a collective I want the team to do better than we did last season and looking around the changing room with the quality we have and good mix of experience and youth I definitely think we can go better than last season.
We all know where this club belongs so we just need to strive to get it back there one step at a time.
Who is the most played artist on your playlist currently?
My music taste wouldn’t be the most generic to be honest.
I might get a bit of stick for this and sound like an old man but the most played artist would be James Blunt.
I love his songs like; 1973, Same Mistake, You’re Beautiful. What a voice.
And finally, who would you say is the best player you have played with or against in your career so far?
The best player I have played with so far in my career would probably be Franz Pierrot.
Played with him when I was at Athlone, he ripped it up there to be fair and got a move to Drogheda United.
The Best player I have played against would probably be Seamie Maguire or Ritchie Towell.
