A busy week comes to an end for Finn Harps when they make the long trip to Wexford on Friday night to face the Youths at Ferrycarrig Park (kick-off 8.00pm) as they seek to keep hold of second spot in the Aitricity League First Division.
After beating Mervue United to jump above them to second on Friday night last, Harps then faced neighbours Derry City in the EA Sports League Cup at Finn Park on Monday night.
However, despite making eight changes for the visit of Derry, Harps were to lose out in the cruellest of fashions going down 6-5 on penalties after a 1-1 draw.
Despite going out of the Cup, Harps boss Peter Hutton was proud of the display from his side and felt they deserved to progress to the quarter-finals.
“I thought we played very well against Derry and should have won the game, but sometimes football can be cruel,” said Hutton. “Whilst the result was disappointing the performance of the team was encouraging and those players that came in acquitted themselves well.
“The players that came in definitely rose to the challenge and will provide me with food for thought for the upcoming games but it is a good dilemma to have. Making eight changes to the team that started against Mervue may have seemed a gamble to most but I have faith in this bunch of players and whilst some have had to be patient in getting their chance over the course of the season we will need everyone in the group to be ready mentally and physically when called upon and those that played against Derry certainly did themselves no harm at all.”
With a big crowd in Finn Park on Monday night, Hutton knows that this is the sort of attendance and atmosphere his side can play in front of very week if they were to secure promotion to the top flight. So, does he feel this will be a motivating factor for his side for the rest of the season?
“The atmosphere was great and demonstrated the passion and excitement that exists for football in Donegal,” said Hutton.
“That is the type of crowd we would like to see every week and the buzz that generates rubs off on the players as it energises and helps motivate them. We spoke after the game of how they should take a lot of confidence from their performance and that should be the standard they wish to replicate every week irrespective of the opposition.”
Harps will welcome back Michael Funston for Friday’s trip to Wexford, after he missed the Derry game through suspension. However, both Damien McNulty and Tommy McMonagle, neither of whom featured against Derry, are struggling to be fit. McNulty has tendonitis to his knee and is doubtful while McMonagle is still hampered by his foot injury.
“Wexford will be a tough nut to crack – particularly as they are at home,” said Hutton ahead of another long away journey.
“We will go into the game though in good spirits and look forward to the challenge. We are fully aware that Wexford will be very well organised and difficult to break down but we will go there with a positive mindset and hope to gain a favourable result.”
The game will be the first of back-to-back meetings between the sides in the space of seven days as the two clubs will do battle again the following weekend – this time at Finn Park in the FAI Cup.
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