Darren Murphy: Finn Harps support can make the difference against Athlone Town

Finn Harps boss Darren Murphy says his side can upset Athlone Town on Friday night in Ballybofey but it’s again going to take the input of the home faithful.

Harps held Cork City to a 1-1 draw on Navenny Street last time out and it took a disputed second-half penalty call for the Leesiders to split the spoils. Athlone, like Harps have also picked up a win and a draw so far.

They opened with a 3-0 home win over Wexford first night out and drew 3-3 away to Cobh Ramblers last Friday.

Looking ahead to their third league outing this weekend, Murphy has asked for “more of the same” from the blur and white contingent along the terraces.

“If we get the same support as we did against Cork we’ll be delighted. It’s great to have that - it’s gives the players such a lift. And we’ll need that again.

“We don’t take it for granted and we are leaving everything out on the pitch for them. I just hope it’s dry next Friday evening! I think the people around the county have bought into us looking to buy back into them.

“They hopefully realise what we are - a community based club looking to get the community onboard. It’s something we will continue to look at, for as long as I’m here”.

Murphy says both he and his management team are happy with their opening hail of four points from a possible six.

“If someone had said to me two games into the season we’d have four points from six, I’d have taken it. We wrote some simple words up on the board before the Cork game.

“Things like ‘hard work’, discipline’, ‘commitment’...the basic requisites really But I thought the lads showed all of that. And that’s down to the players. They deserve huge amount of credit for that”.

A disputed penalty, converted by Cork City ace Jack Doherty, 20 minutes from the end, saw Harps settle for a point.

The home crowd was aggrieved as they filtered out into the cool Ballybofey night after Success Edogun broke the deadlock.

Harps were good value for the lead until that moment when Doherty struck the leveller.

“I thought we deserved to go in at half-time one up,” said Murphy. “We created some good chances. Success is a handful and we play to his strengths.

“But any opposition manager will always say it’s not a penalty. It’s extremely difficult for referees. The amount of rules changes; what is or isn’t a handball now. It’s so grey now that it’s very difficult.

“Has it hit his hand, yes. But it’s still soft. Like I said it’s extremely difficult for officials”.

Harps have their injury troubles right now but Murphy isn’t dwelling on the ones that aren’t available.

“Hopefully Conor Tourish won’t be too far away. Aaron McLaughlin is a little longer, we’re probably looking at four to five weeks. Ryan Rainey, we’re not too sure while Kevin Jordan is long-term.

“But you’ll find with me, is that I don’t really talk about the lads that are unavailable as they can’t affect the here and now. We can only concentrate on the lads that are available.

“And the 19 we had available against Cork out in a huge shift”.