It’s been eight long years, but Finn Harps will make a return to the top flight of League of Ireland football when they welcome neighbours Derry City to Finn Park on Friday evening for a high profile opening day fixture to the Premier Division season.
Since being relegated in 2008, Harps have endured a miserable time and last season’s promotion winning campaign was the first time they actually finished in the top half of the First Division in the seven seasons since they last tasted top Division action.
However, the unforgettable scenes as BJ Banda rose to head Harps into the Premier Division with a late, late extra-time winner against Limerick in the play-offs is now beginning to fade into a distant memory. And it’s something that Harps boss Ollie Horgan isn’t even thinking about any longer.
“Yes, it was great and what we achieved was a tremendous feat – but last year is well and truly over now and everyone needs to concentrate on the huge task ahead,” said Horgan as he prepares for his third season in charge at Harps.
“I said it at the time and I’ll say it again – staying up this season would be an even bigger achievement than the success of last season,” he said of the challenge he takes his side into over the coming nine months. “We would take the play-off spot now if we were offered it,” he laughed.
Harps couldn’t have asked for a more appetising fixture in which to kick-off their return to the big time. Nearest neighbours Derry City, who will be playing their first competitive game under new Manager Kenny Shiels, come to Finn Park for a game that will be played in front of a capacity crowd.
Horgan knows that his side will be underdogs for the vast majority of fixtures this season.
“Derry are one of many fulltime teams in this Division with very talented players,” he said of the candystripes. “We will do well to get anything out of the game on Friday. We will need to be at our best and hope that Derry don’t reach their full potential if we are to start the season with a positive result.”
Like many other teams, the pre-season build-up has been somewhat of a stop start nature for Harps as the poor weather conditions hampered preparations somewhat. “Pre season went just ok for us, mainly due to lack of time on grass due to weather conditions,” said Horgan. “However, it is what it is and we just had to do things as best as we can. It’s something we don’t have much control over I’m sure it was much the same for many of the other clubs.”
Horgan has kept most of the promotion winning squad from last season together and has added a number of new faces to bolster the squad.
Goalkeeper Richard Brush arrives from Sligo Rovers as does young midfielder Liam Flatley. Ryan McConnell has moved back home after two years at Manchester United while Ethan Boyle makes the move from Waterford to Donegal. Adam Hanlon is another new arrival and lists Bray Wanderers and Shelbourne amongst his former clubs.
Striker Ryan Curran, son of former Harps defender Paul Curran, could be in line to make his debut against his former club on Friday while another ex-Candystripe, Michael Rafter, has also been added to the squad. Sean Houston, who scored four goals in fourteen games for Harps in 2009, arrives back at Finn Park after spells with UCD, Bray Wanderers and Derry. The highly experienced Dave Scully is another new signing and has plenty of experience from his days with Kildare County, Bray Wanderers and Bohemians.
Another new ‘old’ face on the bench will be Gavin Dykes who will be Horgan’s Assistant this season after James Gallagher stepped down from the role at the end of last season. Dykes is, of course, a former Manager at Harps and played in the 1999 Cup Final for the club as well as having spells at Derry City and his hometown club Sligo Rovers.
Packie Mailey, Damien McNulty and Ciaran Coll all came off injured in the last pre-season game against Drogheda Untied last weekend are rated as doubtful for Friday’s game. Josh Mailey has been injured for much of pre-season and is definitely out.
Despite local derbies traditionally being tight affairs, the same can’t be said of the Harps/Derry clashes down through the years. Derry certainly have the hoodoo sign over Harps, with Friday’s hosts only recording five victories in 59 previous competitive meetings with the Candystripes – the last of these coming sixteen years ago. Can Ollie Horgan and Harps add to that on Friday?
TEAM NEWS
Suspended: None.
Doubtful: Packie Mailey, Damien McNulty, Ciaran Coll.
Injured: Josh Mailey.
RECORD AGAINST DERRY CITY (All Competitions)
Friday’s game will be the 60th meeting of the two clubs, and the 30th to be played in Finn Park.
Total Games: 59 (29 at Finn Park)
Harps Wins: 5 (3 at Finn Park)
Derry Wins: 39 (15 at Finn Park)
Draws: 15 (11 at Finn Park)
Harps Goals: 38 (23 at Finn Park)
Derry Goals: 109 (46 at Finn Park)
LAST 10 GAMES v DERRY CITY
05-May-08 Derry City 3-0 Finn Harps – League Cup
27-May-08 Finn Harps 0-2 Derry City – Premier Division
29-Aug-08 Derry City 1-0 Finn Harps – Premier Division
04-May-10 Derry City 2-0 Finn Harps – First Division
10-May-10 Derry City 2-0 Finn Harps – League Cup
30-Jul-10 Finn Harps 1-1 Derry City – First Division
22-Oct-10 Derry City 2-2 Finn Harps – First Division
09-Apr-12 Derry City 4- 0 Finn Harps – League Cup
25-May-12 Derry City 4-0 Finn Harps – FAI Cup
20-May-13 Finn Harps 1-1 Derry City – League Cup