New Finn Harps boss Darren Murphy strikes notes of realism

While ‘progression’ was a word mentioned quite often during his first press conference as Finn Harps manager, there was a fair dollop of realism thrown in by Darren Murphy.

As he spoke in the Villa Rose Hotel on Monday evening, Murphy wasn’t setting any lofty targets as he takes controls for something of a reset down Navenny Street.

Murphy finished the 2023 season as caretaker manager following the departure of Dave Rogers in September, having initially joined as Rogers’ assistant.

Harps find themselves coming off the back of a relegation from the Premier Division in 2022 and having finished bottom-bar-one - only newcomers Kerry FC were lower - in the First Division in 2023.

“The last two years were extremely difficult for the Board,” Finn Harps Chairperson Ian Harkin said. “They were two of the worst years in the club’s history on the pitch, but you can’t always focus on the negatives.

“In the first game last season against Galway, we didn’t have one player starting who came through the academy. Against Bray in the last game of the season, five started and we had another three or four on the bench.”

During the 2023 season, Harps used 14 graduates from the club’s academy.

Murphy pointed to the likes of 17-year-olds Aaron McLaughlin, Max Johnston,19-year-old Sean O’Donnell and the 20-year-old Kevin Jordan - confirmed as having put pen to paper for 2024 just before the new manager’s unveiling - as ‘glimmers of hope’ from the season just gone.

Murphy said: “We used Aaron sparingly until we felt that he was ready to go in from the word go. He understood the league and what he needed to do as a player.”

Given Harps’ financial constraints, Murphy made no secret that he will dip heavily into the youth ranks; something he appears quite content to do.

He said: “There might be some short-term pain because of where we are at financially, but we can all get through it together,” Murphy told his audience.

“We need to show clear progression and have the best young players understand that the opportunity to play at Finn Park for Finn Harps will be there.

“All I will ask from every player is maximum effort. If we get maximum effort and we come up short, then we come up short.

“I’m not naive. Results are important, but we want to put a team on the pitch that people will be proud of.”

Harps have given Murphy a two-year contract and the 48-year-old will be employed on a full-time basis.

Harkin said: “As a club, we decided that we had to give the role respect and make sure it is full-time to allow them to do the job on a professional basis. The manager’s role is the most important in a football club.”

Finn Harps Chairperson Ian Harkin and manager Darren Murphy. (North West Newspix)

Among Murphy’s early jobs will be in determining the playing personnel he will retain. Several players are already under contract for 2024, but Harkin confirmed that there are ‘offers in for some of them’. Board and manager will discuss those offers in the coming days.

American Ryan Flood, who netted 14 goals in 37 appearances in all competitions this year, is one example of a player who seems certain to have suitors.

Harps have recruited heavily from abroad over the last decade. While that avenue mightn’t completely shut down, the club appears keen to cut down on certain expenditure with rising accommodation costs one such area that seems likely to get chopped. Under League of Ireland rules, Harps are limited to four loan players at a given time, but the successful spells of Derry City players Daithi McCallion and Caoimhin Porter - who were able to reside at home in Derry - might be an avenue worth exploring again.

The new manager has extensive contacts throughout the Irish League, where Harkin noted that there are 25 players from Donegal plying their trade.  A former player in the Irish League with Portadown, Glenavon, Linfield and Dungannon Swifts, Murphy later managed Dungannon and worked as a coach with both Linfield and Crusaders.

“Gone are those days of having four or five houses,” Murphy remarked. “Location can be an issue for Finn Harps and we may still require accommodation for loan players, but local is where I want to go.

“We will still have the ability to attract players from further afield. We won’t shut down that area. Finn Harps is the only senior team in Donegal so, if you want to play at the top level why not do it with your own county team.”

Former Harps striker Kevin McHugh, who is the Head of Academy, is expected to continue involvement in the first team backroom staff. Strabane native Eamon Curry, a former Harps under-15 manager who holds a UEFA A Licence and a UEFA Goalkeeper A Diploma, has also joined Murphy’s backroom team.

Harps will announce new managers for their under-19s and under-19s in the coming weeks. Stephen McNutt was the Harps under-19 manager and was also on the first team coaching staff in 2023. While he has stepped away from those roles, the Buncrana man will continue as Harps’ Football Social Responsibility Officer.

“Just a new look and a different set of eyes,” Murphy said of the impending appointments. “Kevin has identified people and we hope that they can take the club forward.”

“If these players were at other clubs, with more financial resources, those opportunities mightn’t arise. The under-19s and under-17s will be involved heavily with the first team. I want them to understand the levels that they need to get to. One of the training nights will revolve around the under-19s and under-17s so they understand what it takes to play in the First Division.

“This is where we are. It’s not where we want to be. Instead of making excuses, we want to put a plan in place and structures in place that’ll help us long term.  It will be about putting a team out that supporters will be proud of. The supporters need to know that the players are there for the right reasons and because they want to be there.”