OLLIE HORGAN HAS EXPRESSED some concerns with the goals leaked by his Finn Harps side in pre-season.
Harps lost 4-2 against First Division side UCD in Dublin on Saturday and with just a week-and-a-half to go until they begin life in the Premier Division, Horgan appears anxious about his rearguard.
Harps’ successful tilt at promotion last season had been built on a defence that gave away little and would keep 19 clean sheets on their way back to the top flight.
Harps lost their opening pre-season game against the Inishowen League, 2-1, but they also shipped a pair of goals in the 4-2 win over Athlone Town.
Burt’s Georgie Kelly netted twice on Saturday as UCD overcame a Harps side that was close to full strength.
“Defensively we were very, very poor,” said Horgan.
“It’s been what we were good at in the last couple of years.
“It was strange, because we were decent attacking wise, but we were very disappointing defensively and it is a worry.”
With Josh Mailey already ruled out for a month and with Ciaran Coll currently recovering from a hamstring injury, there were concerns on Saturday when Damien McNulty left the action holding a hurt shoulder that will be assessed this week to determine the extent of the damage.
Harps play Derry City on Friday-week, March 4, in a game that marks their return to the Premier Division after an eight-year absence. A sequence of games that includes the champions, Dundalk, Shamrock Rovers and Sligo Rovers makes for a tricky opening for Horgan’s team.
The Harps manager said: “We know that we are going to be under pressure.
“UCD showed us that. They are a First Division team, but they didn’t have Robbie Benson against us on Saturday and they won’t be far away.
“That said, conceding four goals against them was disappointing.
“The one good thig was that we got a game on a grass pitch – it was well worth going to Dublin for that because, at least, it has shown us where we are.”
Reports yesterday suggested that Horgan was close to tempting former Derry City midfielder Barry Molloy out of retirement.
While an approach was made to Molloy during the off-season, suggestions that he is set to make a move to Harps appear well wide of the mark.
