Caoimhin Porter determined to push Harps up the pecking order

Caoimhin Porter believes Finn Harps can now begin to propel themselves up the First Division pecking order after securing their first league win of the season, over Longford Town, last weekend.

The Derry teenager - on loan this term from the Premier Division title contenders - says he’d a number of other offers at the start of this season. However, conversations with both Ruaidhrí Higgins and Dave Rogers convinced him Ballybofey was the best place for him to be.

“It’s very convenient but that’s not the reason I chose Finn Harps,” said Porter. “I had other offers. But once I spoke to Dave I knew Harps was where I wanted to be. I’d made a number of senior appearances last season for Derry.

“But I spoke with Ruaidhrí Higgins and he explained that this was a great chance to go and play regularly and to get real experience. He wanted me to go out and get as much first team football under my belt in the next few months and see where it takes me.

“When I sat down with Dave he really mapped out what he wanted from me. We’ve been doing alot of individual sessions as well where we’re working on technique and positioning. He’s serious experience and my aim is to learn as much as I can now under him.

 “The First Division is a physical and demanding league. But it’s as strong as it’s been in years in terms of sides that are good enough to go up and hold their own there. We want to kick on now and get Harps back there as quickly as possible”.

Harps jumped to seventh in the standings after last week’s three-point haul secured at Bishopsgate. And Porter says Friday night’s clash at home to Cobh Ramblers is a chance to keep matters moving now in the right direction.

“Listen - it’s all positive after Longford. We wanted to get that first win under our belt and we achieved that. The opening two losses, that wasn’t the start we wanted. But we’ve slowly but surely steadied things up.

“We’re inching closer to where we want to get to. There has been a small improvement every week in that sense. Yes, we’re a long way off where we want to eventually get to but we’re working so hard to make sure that’s sooner rather than later.

 “Two draws and two clean sheets after those pair of opening loses, the work that went into that alone was serious. We’re in a really good place this week. But it’s all about building now and not falling back down the levels.

“It’s congested enough there yet because it is so early on. A win on Friday night has the potential to move us up the table further so that’s the motivation”.