FOUR MORE SIGN UP FOR HARPS FOR COMING SEASON

January 7, 2010

Four more members of last season's Finn Harps squad have re-signed for the upcoming season.  Michael Funston, James Doherty, Gary Whoriskey and Marc Brolly have all agreed to remain at the club for the 2010 campaign, which gets underway in two months time.  This brings to seven the number of players from last season who have now agreed terms with the club after Stephen McLaughlin, Ciaran Gallagher and Packie Mailey did likewise before Christmas.

Midfielder Michael Funston initially signed for Harps from Bonagee United at the start of the 2004 season.  After Felix Healy's appointment as Manager in that same year, Funston quickly became a permanent fixture in the side, alongside Anthony Gorman in the middle of the pitch and picked up a First Division Championship medal in his first season at the club.  A hard working midfield player, Funston likes to get forward at every opportunity and scores more than his fair share of goals.  To date, he has played 172 times for the club and has scored 18 goals.

Gary Whoriskey is a left back or left midfielder in his second spell at the club.  Re-signed from Gweedore United in 2008, he was an important part of Sean McGowan's ‘A' League side.  The Gweedore native has played for Niall McGonagles LYIT side since 2005, winning the CFAI cup in 2005 and losing out in two finals in 2009.  Gary's senior debut came in the 1-1 draw against Mervue United last March, and he played 24 times in total in 2009.

Marc Brolly is a speedy left-winger who arrived at Finn Park prior to the start of the 2007 season.  A native of Strabane, he was the under-21 team captain at Derry City in the 2006 season and had been tipped to have a bright future ahead of him in the League of Ireland.  Paul Hegarty, who would have known Brolly from his time as Assistant Manager at the Brandywell, wasted no time in snapping up the Tyrone man after he was appointed Harps boss at Christmas 2006.  Although he found it difficult to hold down a regular first team spot at first, 2009 was without doubt his best season at the club.

21 years old right-back James Doherty made his debut for the club in October 2006 in a 2-0 victory over Kilkenny City during the final days of Anthony Gorman's term as Harps Manager.  Made another handful of appearances in 2007 before leaving the club in 2008 and playing with Newry City in the Irish League.  Returned midway through the 2009 season, where he played eight games for the club.  He now looks set to have a more prominent role with the club this year.