GARETH DOHERTY will be up against familiar opponents on Tuesday evening when he faces Letterkenny Rovers for Finn Harps Reserves in the 4 Lanterns Ulster Senior League (kick-off 7.30pm).
The Drumkeen man played with Rovers before transferring to the Harps Under-19s last summer and was quickly recruited by Ollie Horgan to the ranks of the Harps senior squad.
Harps have returned to the USL this season after almost two years away and they registered their first win last Sunday with Doherty scoring in a 3-2 away win at Swilly Rovers.
“The Ulster Senior League is brilliant because you’re playing extra games, but it’s the fact that you’re playing them against men that’s the big one,” Doherty says.
“You have to raise the game every week. It’s a good League and the standard is good. It’s brilliant for our development.
“It’s a taste of what it’s like to play senior football. You’re playing against grown men; it’s a big step up from the Under-19s. It’s the next natural step for players and it isn’t far off what the first team is like.
“The size and strength of players you’re up against is a big thing.”
Doherty was one of a raft of players from Rovers to be snapped up by Harps last year and was hastily upgraded to the first team at Finn Park, making two substitute appearances in 2015.
“Whenever I was called in, the training was a lot different,” Doherty says. “The difference in training was a big eye-opener, but it’s been a serious help. Pretty much as soon as I signed for Harps, Ollie had me in the first team.
“He was watching us in the Foyle Cup and signed us. We were straight in. I never expected to be in that quickly.”
Doherty had been ear-marked from a young age as one to watch and was given his Ulster Senior League debut by then Rovers boss Trevor Scanlon. Doherty was just 15 at the time and the experience is one he won’t forget in a hurry.
Doherty says: “I was just 15 and was thrown into a USL game against Derry City Reserves.
“I was marking Raymond Foy that dsay. I was sick that day and couldn’t get into the game at all.
“I was taken off at half-time…It wasn’t my best day! I played two seasons with Rovers in the USL, with Trevor and then with Eamon (McConigley).
“It’ll be a wee bit strange playing against Rovers. I know Eamon, Anthony Gorman and most of the lads. They were very good to me and most of this Harps team would know them well.
“It’ll be funny to be the opposition to them, but I’m looking forward to the game.”
Harps are new recruits to the Ulster Senior League and, much like Derry City, results aren’t the primary objective.
Doherty says: “It’s all about developing. Joe (Boyle) tells us just to get our performances right and be ready for the next step. I’ve another year left at the Under-19s so I’ll be aiming to force my way into Ollie’s plans next season.”
