Darren Murphy urges Finn Harps to 'back up' promising opening quarter to new season

Few – even Darren Murphy himself – might have expected Finn Harps to be riding high in the First Division standings this season.

Yet, with the first series of games completed, Harps are well placed in second spot, just three points off the early leaders, Cork City. Harps have a four-point buffer to UCD in third.

Admittedly these are early days, with only a quarter of the season gone, but Harps crucially have a nine-point gap to the first team – Bray Wanderers in sixth – outside the play-off positions.

“We have done well, but it's how we back it up now,” Murphy told Donegal Live on Friday evening after a 1-1 draw with UCD in Ballybofey.

“We are nine games in and we have lost one game. I am immensely proud. It has been hugely difficult for them. It's massive to be sitting where we are. I would be in the wrong place if I was going to be critical of them at any stage. They have been magnificent.”

Ciaran Behan earned UCD a point with a 74^th minute equaliser to cancel out Tony McNamee's early opener from a free kick.

Frustration even from Harps that they didn't nick a winner was in marked contrast to the early stages of the season's opening night in February. Harps were 2-0 down at Longford Town, but critically flipped the night on its head with 19-year-old Mark Mbuli coming off the bench to score a debut winner.

Murphy said: “Bar the first 20 minutes at Longford – when I thought to myself 'what am I doing back in a dugout?' - they have been competitive in every game.

“The disappointment comes from them raising the expectations.

“ What they have to learn to do now is build on that and that will be a big challenge.

“All the teams have a feel for each other now and we won't be a surprise package. Everyone will know about us now so the next nine games will be more difficult.”

Harps will reflect on two points left behind from Friday. In the closing stages, Sean O'Donnell was denied by a goal-line block before a Kian Moore wonder save denied Conor Tourish in the dying embers.

Murphy said: “We should have scored. We had a chance inside the six-yard box that we should have scored. There is no question about that.

“The save was as good a save as I have seen in a long time. Conor caught it really well and the 'keeper got across with a big, strong hand to get it over the crossbar.”

Harps have three away assignments – at Athlone Town, Cobh Ramblers and Cork City – on the next three weekends before hosting Treaty United in early May.

The away days will, said Murphy, 'be a testing challenge, mentally and physically'.

Mbuli and Aaron McLaughlin returned to the squad on Friday, but Stephen Doherty was forced off after 16 minutes due to a hamstring complaint that will need further assessment. On loan Sligo Rovers net-minder Conor Walsh made his Harps debut in goal after Tim Hiemer picked up a knock in the Easter Monday win over Bray Wanderers.