BY MATTHEW WILSON
FINN Harps left-back Alex Fanle expressed the importance of picking up points on home soil as they prepare for another encounter at Finn Park this Friday when Treaty United come to town.
Finn Harps were in action last Friday night where they shared the spoils with Wexford FC in their own backyard.
The hosts went a goal behind early on, with Jake Doyle heading the ball home after nine minutes of play.
However, Kevin McHugh’s men responded well and earned themselves a draw courtesy of Daniel Lacerda’s second stanza goal.
Fanle was pleased with the reaction of the side following the slow start but stated that the group must pick up all three points when taking to the field at home.
“We could see this as a good point but from my point of view, at home we need to win. We didn’t have a good start to the game but we showed a great reaction to get the point so it wasn’t bad. However, we have to improve in the early stages of the match.”
Fanle is one of six new recruits that have been added to the Finn Harps squad by Kevin McHugh for the 2026 season.
The French native grew up playing his football in his home county, lining out for sides such as FC Nevers and ASPTT Dijon.
The 21-year-old has now relocated to Donegal for the next chapter of his career and he’s enjoying the experience so far.
“It’s been really good. Everyone at the club has been very welcoming, the staff, the players and the fans. I’m really enjoying the environment here and I’m just focusing on working hard every day and trying to win a lot of matches.”
During his first trial game for the Navenny Street club against Sligo Rovers, the French full-back picked up an ankle injury in the latter stages which saw him ruled out of action for a number of weeks.
This would be his one and only appearance of pre-season, with his next outing coming in Finn Harps’ second game of the First Division season, a 2-1 home win against UCD. He was straight back into the starting side for this encounter against The Students and this trust from Kevin McHugh was meaningful for Fanle and he’s determined to repay the faith.
“I got injured in my first trial match against Sligo Rovers. I got an ankle injury and I didn’t manage to get a lot of games during pre-season.
“The thing that I like is the coaches trust in me. He didn’t hesitate to put me into the starting eleven against UCD so I just want to repay that trust and give my one hundred percent.”
Up next for Finn Harps is a second successive home game as Treaty United make the journey up to Finn Park this Friday night.
The Limerick based side have made a low-key start to the new season, picking up just one point from the first 12 available to them.
However, that one point came in their last outing when they shared the spoils with Kerry FC and they’ll be aiming to build on this when they make the long trip north.
Speaking to the Donegal News, Fanle expressed that this Friday’s test is a key contest for the group and they’re aiming to give it their all when they take to the field in Ballybofey.
“It’s an important game for us. Every match is an opportunity for us to improve and to get points. At home it is really important to get points and we are preparing really well this week.
“The focus is to go into the game with the right mentality and to give it everything on the pitch every Friday.”
Fellow Finn Harps player Max Hutchinson stated last week that the squad are aiming to make Finn Park a fortress for visiting teams this term.
The French full-back further highlighted this, discussing that it’s necessary for them to control contests and pick up points when sides make the long trip to Donegal.
“When we have games away from home, we are up the north so we have to make long trips. When other teams come to us, it’s the same so we have to be strong and get points because it’s not easy.
“The pitch is not easy, having an away game is not easy so we have to dominate the other team at home. For Friday, we need to show a strong mentality and do the job on the pitch.”
