finnharpshome

              Finn Harps was founded in 1954 and first caught the eye of the general public when they lifted

the FAI Junior cup in 1968. Following this success and their innitial performances in the FAI Intermediate

competition, the club took the decision to apply for membership of the League Of Ireland. They were

accepted and played their first game in the senior ranks on 17th of August 1969. Although Harps lost this

game by an embarrassing 10-2 scoreline to a powerful Shamrock Rovers side, they were to go on and have

their successes. It was during the 1970' that the club won it's first major trophy, winning the Dublin City

Cup in 1971/72 season, defeating Cork Hibs in the final in Dalymount park. Finn Harps most prestigious

moment came in 1974 when they defeated St. Patricks athletic in the final of the FAI Senior Challenge

Cup.

                    During the seventies Finn Harps enjoyed several European adventures, playing against sides

like Aberdeen ,Derby County, Everton and playing in the Cup Winners Cup against top Turkish side,

Bursaspor.

                         During the Eighties the club started to slide and by 1985 the team was playing in the first

division. It wasn't until the arrival of Patsy McGowan that the fortunes of the club began to turn around.

He arrived during the 1992/93 season and over the next three seasons Harps finished in the playoff's twice,

but lost on both occasions. He was sacked and Charlie McGeever took over for part of a season before being

replaced by Dermot Keely, under Keely the team gained promotion in 1995/96. Keely left the club during

the summer amidst a takeover bid by a local consortium and Charlie McGeever was placed as manager

once again as plans began for a new Co-Op.

                       Harps survived their first season ain the top flight and built on that success by reaching the

FAI Cup final in 1999 only to lose in a second replay to Bray Wanderers, the same season the reserves and

youths both captured their respective leagues, but this was little consolation.


                      A disaster of a start to the new season saw Harps slump and Charlie McGeever resigned his

position to be replaced bu Gavin Dykes for the remainder of the 1999/00 season. A disasterous run of form

during the 2000/01 season saw Dykes resign and Jonathan Speak took over as Player/Manager for the rest

of the season, under Speak Harps are playing some excellent football and have been unlucky to only gain

draws against Bohs, Rovers and Shels, when three points should have gone up north on all occasions. The

season isn't over yet and Speak firmly believes that Harps can avoid relegation.