Tony McNamee and Finn Harps to press reset button during mid-season break 

fter losing out 3-1 to Bray Wanderers at the Carlisle Grounds on Friday – a result that leaves them eight in the table – the Ballybofey-based outfit won’t return to competitive action until a home encounter against Wexford on June 13

By Daire Walsh

Following what he describes as a ‘very difficult last few weeks’ for the side, Finn Harps captain Tony McNamee has welcomed the arrival of a mid-season break in the League of Ireland.

After losing out 3-1 to Bray Wanderers in the SSE Airtricity Men’s First Division at the Carlisle Grounds on Friday – a result that leaves them eight in the table – the Ballybofey-based outfit won’t return to competitive action until a home encounter against Wexford on June 13.

A ninth-minute opener from Gavin Hodgins had offered hope to Harps in the Wicklow venue, but with Billy O’Neill and Danu Kinsella Bishop finding the target for Bray either side of a Max Murphy penalty, the visitors ultimately extended their winless league run to seven games.

“It has been a very difficult last few weeks and I think tonight summed it up. We created probably enough chances to win the game, they probably created more. I think they deservedly took the three points tonight in the end,” McNamee remarked after Friday’s game.

“It’s just disappointing. It’s another game with no points. I was going to say move on, but I think the break has come at a good time for us.

“It’s difficult. You go 1-0 up. I’m not saying you drop back straight away, but you start to retreat a bit. I think the first two goals were disappointing on our behalf.

“I think we just have to take the break as well as we can, recharge the batteries. Keep into some shape, come back and hopefully start from the ground running up.”