Donegal Daily
  • News
  • Sport
    • Football

      Harps left cursing their luck as Derry…

      13 mins ago

      Football

      Patching free-kick cancels out Mihajević opener at…

      2 hours ago

      GAA

      Derry name starting side for Sunday’s Ulster…

      2 hours ago

      GAA

      Last call for inclusion of Donegal stories…

      3 hours ago

      Athletics

      Watch: How Eamon Giles proved his doubters…

      11 hours ago

      Athletics

      Williamson wins Furey Insurance Buncrana 5k

      2 days ago

      Athletics

      RunDonegal Women’s 5K next Sunday to benefit…

      2 weeks ago

      Athletics

      Pictures: Claire McGuigan is ‘first lady’ in…

      2 weeks ago

      Boxing

      Venue swap for Brett McGinty fight next…

      1 week ago

      Boxing

      Donegal boxers claim Ulster 9 County titles…

      2 weeks ago

      Boxing

      Brett McGinty to return to boxing in…

      3 weeks ago

      Boxing

      Night of Support being held for West…

      3 weeks ago

      Football

      Harps left cursing their luck as Derry…

      13 mins ago

      Football

      Patching free-kick cancels out Mihajević opener at…

      2 hours ago

      Football

      Ollie Horgan says ‘we have to keep…

      12 hours ago

      Football

      Carl McHugh scores to help his side…

      2 days ago

      GAA

      Derry name starting side for Sunday’s Ulster…

      2 hours ago

      GAA

      Last call for inclusion of Donegal stories…

      3 hours ago

      GAA

      Donegal hoping history stays on their side…

      6 hours ago

      GAA

      Former Donegal star to feature on first…

      12 hours ago

      Golf

      Cloughaneely Golf Club to celebrate 25th anniversary…

      2 days ago

      Golf

      McDonald’s manager Victor Byrne supporting a charity…

      5 days ago

      Golf

      Prize fund of €2,500 for Letterkenny Golf…

      1 week ago

      Golf

      Top 10 finish for Ryan Griffin in…

      2 weeks ago

      Hockey

      Four Donegal players named in Ireland hockey…

      4 weeks ago

      Hockey

      Hockey: Raphoe go down fighting

      2 months ago

      Hockey

      Hockey: Raphoe lose out in crucial relegation…

      2 months ago

      Hockey

      Raphoe Ladies reach Irish Hockey Trophy final

      3 months ago

      GAA

      Match Report – Casey inspires Tyrone in…

      2 weeks ago

      GAA

      Mickey McCann reacts to heartbreaking defeat to…

      2 weeks ago

      Hurling

      Brave Donegal hurlers miss out on another…

      2 weeks ago

      Hurling

      SHL – Strong second half sees St…

      2 weeks ago

      Rugby

      Letterkenny girls play in front of huge…

      2 days ago

      Rugby

      Donegal girls feature for Ulster in provincial…

      3 weeks ago

      Rugby

      Last gasp drop goal clinches dramatic Gordon…

      1 month ago

      Rugby

      Donegal girls selected for underage Ulster Rugby…

      1 month ago

  • Courts
  • Jobs
  • Travel
  • Features
  • Business
  • Property
  • Council News
  • Politics
  • More
    • Advertise with us
    • Haircare
    • Cooking
    • DD Pets
    • Hairdressing
    • Motors
Friday 12°CSaturday 16°C

Donegal Daily Donegal Daily

  • News
  • Sport
    • Football

      Harps left cursing their luck as Derry…

      13 mins ago

      Football

      Patching free-kick cancels out Mihajević opener at…

      2 hours ago

      GAA

      Derry name starting side for Sunday’s Ulster…

      2 hours ago

      GAA

      Last call for inclusion of Donegal stories…

      3 hours ago

      Athletics

      Watch: How Eamon Giles proved his doubters…

      11 hours ago

      Athletics

      Williamson wins Furey Insurance Buncrana 5k

      2 days ago

      Athletics

      RunDonegal Women’s 5K next Sunday to benefit…

      2 weeks ago

      Athletics

      Pictures: Claire McGuigan is ‘first lady’ in…

      2 weeks ago

      Boxing

      Venue swap for Brett McGinty fight next…

      1 week ago

      Boxing

      Donegal boxers claim Ulster 9 County titles…

      2 weeks ago

      Boxing

      Brett McGinty to return to boxing in…

      3 weeks ago

      Boxing

      Night of Support being held for West…

      3 weeks ago

      Football

      Harps left cursing their luck as Derry…

      13 mins ago

      Football

      Patching free-kick cancels out Mihajević opener at…

      2 hours ago

      Football

      Ollie Horgan says ‘we have to keep…

      12 hours ago

      Football

      Carl McHugh scores to help his side…

      2 days ago

      GAA

      Derry name starting side for Sunday’s Ulster…

      2 hours ago

      GAA

      Last call for inclusion of Donegal stories…

      3 hours ago

      GAA

      Donegal hoping history stays on their side…

      6 hours ago

      GAA

      Former Donegal star to feature on first…

      12 hours ago

      Golf

      Cloughaneely Golf Club to celebrate 25th anniversary…

      2 days ago

      Golf

      McDonald’s manager Victor Byrne supporting a charity…

      5 days ago

      Golf

      Prize fund of €2,500 for Letterkenny Golf…

      1 week ago

      Golf

      Top 10 finish for Ryan Griffin in…

      2 weeks ago

      Hockey

      Four Donegal players named in Ireland hockey…

      4 weeks ago

      Hockey

      Hockey: Raphoe go down fighting

      2 months ago

      Hockey

      Hockey: Raphoe lose out in crucial relegation…

      2 months ago

      Hockey

      Raphoe Ladies reach Irish Hockey Trophy final

      3 months ago

      GAA

      Match Report – Casey inspires Tyrone in…

      2 weeks ago

      GAA

      Mickey McCann reacts to heartbreaking defeat to…

      2 weeks ago

      Hurling

      Brave Donegal hurlers miss out on another…

      2 weeks ago

      Hurling

      SHL – Strong second half sees St…

      2 weeks ago

      Rugby

      Letterkenny girls play in front of huge…

      2 days ago

      Rugby

      Donegal girls feature for Ulster in provincial…

      3 weeks ago

      Rugby

      Last gasp drop goal clinches dramatic Gordon…

      1 month ago

      Rugby

      Donegal girls selected for underage Ulster Rugby…

      1 month ago

  • Courts
  • Jobs
  • Travel
  • Features
  • Business
  • Property
  • Council News
  • Politics
  • More
    • Advertise with us
    • Haircare
    • Cooking
    • DD Pets
    • Hairdressing
    • Motors
Football

Fergal Harkin recalls Stephen Kenny – ‘the best manager I played under’

written by Chris McNulty April 6, 2020
Facebook0Tweet0LinkedIn0Print0

FERGAL Harkin is unequivocal in his assessment of Stephen Kenny, the new Republic of Ireland manager.

The Ballyliffin man, now working as the Football Partnerships and Pathways Manager at Manchester City, won a League of Ireland Premier Division title under Kenny with Bohemians in the 2002/03 season.

Picture: Fergal Harkin celebrates as Bohemians win the 2002/03 Premier Division

Harkin joined Bohemians after Finn Harps’ relegation in 2001 and in his second season at Dalymount was toasting glory.

Kenny was just 30 when he took over from Pete Mahon during the 2001 campaign and he stayed for nearly three years.

“Stephen was great – he was the best manager I played under in Ireland,” Harkin told Donegal Daily/Donegal Sport Hub.

“For sure, Stephen was the best. We played brilliant football and it was so enjoyable. Training was brilliant and Stephen got a great group of lads who were hungry and who could play.

“He had a great way of picking the players who had something to prove.”

On Saturday, it was confirmed that Kenny had succeeded Mick McCarthy as Ireland manager with immediate effect.

McCarthy was due to lead Ireland into the Euro 2020 play-off against Slovakia last month, but that game has now been postponed until at least the autumn.

Kenny – the current Irish under-21 boss – had been due to take over on August 1, but the Football Association of Ireland today moved to address the matter.

Kenny won five League titles, two FAI Cups and three League Cups with Dundalk before taking on the Irish Under-21 job.

“I think he absolutely deserves the opportunity to manage the Irish senior team,” Harkin says.

“He has a phenomenal record. Stephen is confident and determined. He will get to know the players immediately and he won’t be scared to give young lads an opportunity.

“I think it’s exciting. He has gone into different environments before where people thought he wasn’t ready. To be honest, I don’t think you can ever be ‘ready’ in football.

“Stephen has been very clever with his back room staff – Damien Duffy and Keith Andrews will have the automatic respect of the dressing room.”

Harkin had a previous, but brief spell at Bohs after returning from Leicester City in 1998, before joining Finn Harps, whom he captained for two seasons.

The Inishowen man stayed with the Gypsies until his retirement in 2007.

He recalls Kenny as being ‘confident and demanding’.

He said: “Stephen was very clear in what he wanted. We felt that we could beat anyone at the time.

“Even though Stephen was young – remember, some of the players were actually older than he was – he had a lot of confidence. He was demanding too and we had a lot of arguments.

Stephen Kenny during his time as Bohemians manager

“Stephen put a lot of pressure on me. Me and Tony O’Connor were working at the time and all the other players were full-time. We had to juggle work a lot and it was tough.

“Stephen put pressure on, but that was his job and I played my best football under Stephen. To answer, who was the best manager, you ask which manager got the best out of me and which manager did I win under? Stephen is the answer to both.

“It’s great for the League of Ireland that he’s got the job. It’s always nice to see people who started in the League of Ireland come on and do well and Stephen deserves his chance. This will give other people in the League confidence that there could be an opportunity to step up now too.”

KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR A FULL INTERVIEW WITH FERGAL HARKIN LATER THIS WEEK

Fergal Harkin recalls Stephen Kenny – ‘the best manager I played under’ was last modified: April 6th, 2020 by Chris McNulty
Facebook0Tweet0LinkedIn0Print0

Tags:
BallyliffinDalymount ParkFergal Harkinfinn harpsMick McCarthyRepublic of Irelandstephen kenny
Chris McNulty

Author of 'Boxing In Donegal: A History (2021)' - the definitive history of the sport in County Donegal - and 'Relentless: A Race Through Time', the 2019 memoir of former Irish Athletics Team Manager Patsy McGonagle. From St Johnston and now based in Letterkenny, Chris was a nominee for NUJ Sports Journalist of the Year in 2010. Honoured by the Donegal Boxing Board in 2016 for his coverage on the sport.

LEAVE A COMMENT

You may also like

Harps left cursing their luck as Derry...

13 mins ago

Patching free-kick cancels out Mihajević opener at...

2 hours ago

Ollie Horgan says ‘we have to keep...

12 hours ago

Carl McHugh scores to help his side...

2 days ago

Former Finn Harps striker Tunde Owolabi scores...

4 days ago

Harps suffer fourth consecutive defeat as Dundalk...

4 days ago

No time to ‘feel sorry for ourselves’...

5 days ago

Finn Harps condemn racist abuse aimed at...

6 days ago

Watch: Lampard hails Coleman as Everton confirm...

6 days ago

Harps fail to take advantage as Drogheda...

1 week ago
Advertisement
Advertisement

MOST POPULAR

Donegal County Council
Advertisement

Sport Hub

  • Stay up to date with Donegal Sport Hub on Facebook

    5 months ago
  • Donegal links rank in Top 100 Golf Courses in the World

    6 months ago
  • Bundoran 10 Event set for March 2022

    6 months ago
See More

Donegal Woman

  • Moya Brennan ‘thrilled and humbled’ with honorary doctorate

    11 hours ago
  • Donegal mum shares the unseen side of MS

    1 day ago
  • Donegal scientist joins prestigious Royal Irish Academy

    1 day ago
See More

Columnists

Healthy Living - Sorcha McElchar

Sorchas Healthy Living: All you need to know about turmeric

21 hours ago

Motoring - Brian McDaid

Carrie Harvey – a community cornerstone

2 days ago

Group Holidays - Travel Department

See the world with holiday discounts from Travel Department

4 days ago

At Home with Hegarty's - Hegarty's Home Interiors

At Home with Hegarty’s: Sit back and relax in the stylish Positano Corner

1 week ago

Career Advice - Rory White

Career Guidance with Rory White: Choosing your senior cycle subjects? Keep your options open!

2 months ago

See All Columnists
Advertisement
Donegal Daily Jobs

Read More

  • News
  • Sport
  • Courts
  • Jobs
  • Sales & Services
  • Obituaries
  • Features
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Council News

Information

  • Contact Us
  • About
  • Advertise WIth Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer
  • Terms & Conditions

Our Sites

Donegal Woman
Donegal Woman
Donegal Daily

© 2022 Donegal Daily. All rights reserved.
Website by owenod


Back To Top.

Posting....