Harps stand between Derry and Title
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On top of the fundamental derby significance Finn Harps feel when they square up to northwest neighbours Derry City, the Donegal side will shoulder an extra weight of responsibility into Friday night’s mouth-watering showdown at the Brandywell.
With the Candystripes three points clear of second place Monaghan United, they know that a win over Harps would land them the First Division title with a game to spare and, better again, in front of their own fans.
However, the mathematics aren’t as simple if Derry fail to pick up all three points because then they must head to Gortakeegan the following week for a crunch meeting with Monaghan, who have come from a stunning ten points behind to force the title race right down to the wire, needing to avoid defeat.
Harps manager James Gallagher, however, says his side will feel no pressure when they make the short journey across the border, but that they would love nothing more than to destabilise their close rivals’ title hopes.
He said: “It’s a big night but we’ll be going in relaxed after what has been a tough season. We’re probably looking at a very big crowd in there and if it is a case of they are going for the league title then it makes the night very interesting. It will be interesting to see how they cope with that.
“But we’ll take a lot of heart from the last time we played them. We’ll take that confidence into the game and obviously having beat Cork 1-0 we’ll take that wee bit confidence with us as well. We’ll have bodies back for next week, unless somebody taps me on the back between now and then, we should have a full strength squad.”
Harps have an awful record against Derry in the Brandywell – having never picked up a win – nevertheless, the Harps boss feels his men, on the back of their first win in eight, possess the tools to examine Derry’s resistance to the core.
“We’ll go in nice and relaxed, trying to make the night difficult for them. You never know, when you have big players like Kevin McHugh and boys like that – he’s scored a few big goals and I’m sure he’s looking forward to going in there now. There would be no better man to upset the odds on Friday night,” said Gallagher.
The pressure then, it would appear, is all on Stephen Kenny’s Derry City.
With the Candystripes three points clear of second place Monaghan United, they know that a win over Harps would land them the First Division title with a game to spare and, better again, in front of their own fans.
However, the mathematics aren’t as simple if Derry fail to pick up all three points because then they must head to Gortakeegan the following week for a crunch meeting with Monaghan, who have come from a stunning ten points behind to force the title race right down to the wire, needing to avoid defeat.
Harps manager James Gallagher, however, says his side will feel no pressure when they make the short journey across the border, but that they would love nothing more than to destabilise their close rivals’ title hopes.
He said: “It’s a big night but we’ll be going in relaxed after what has been a tough season. We’re probably looking at a very big crowd in there and if it is a case of they are going for the league title then it makes the night very interesting. It will be interesting to see how they cope with that.
“But we’ll take a lot of heart from the last time we played them. We’ll take that confidence into the game and obviously having beat Cork 1-0 we’ll take that wee bit confidence with us as well. We’ll have bodies back for next week, unless somebody taps me on the back between now and then, we should have a full strength squad.”
Harps have an awful record against Derry in the Brandywell – having never picked up a win – nevertheless, the Harps boss feels his men, on the back of their first win in eight, possess the tools to examine Derry’s resistance to the core.
“We’ll go in nice and relaxed, trying to make the night difficult for them. You never know, when you have big players like Kevin McHugh and boys like that – he’s scored a few big goals and I’m sure he’s looking forward to going in there now. There would be no better man to upset the odds on Friday night,” said Gallagher.
The pressure then, it would appear, is all on Stephen Kenny’s Derry City.
