'We didn’t do enough to win the game, we probably got what we deserved' - Murphy

Finn Harps boss Darren Murphy admits that his side probably got exactly what they deserved following Monday’s tangle with Bray Wanderers that saw the Donegal club lose out 1-0 to the Leinster side. 

The grueling schedule forced Murphy’s hand as he made five alterations from the side that bested Treaty United on Friday, and it wasn’t until he brought Success Edogun, David Cawley, and Seán O’Donnell on at the break that his side showed signs of life. 

By then, they already trailed 1-0 and it was a deficit they could not claw back as Murphy confessed that tired bodies forced his hand. 

“A lot of it was down to fatigue and the size of the squad,” Murphy admitted following his side’s defeat.  

“We only have a squad of 22 players and three of them are goalkeepers, and we’ve four injuries that are long-term. We had to use the 11 that we used on Friday night against Treaty United. 

Despite scoring late on Friday night with captain Tony McNamee sealing the win for Finn Harps, it was not to be this time around, with Bray’s Shane Griffin grabbing the only goal of the game, a strike which helped the Wicklow club jump above Harps in the table. 

“We’re traveling down here to play, and it was just to freshen it up. I believe in each and every player in the squad and if you believe in them; you have to play them,” Murphy said regarding his team’s shortage of players at the minute.  

“I saw this as an opportunity to play them. Some took their chances, some didn’t. That’s how the game works. We did freshen it up again at half time with three changes and a further two during the game, so we used our full quota, but ultimately over the course of the 90 minutes, we just didn’t do enough to win the game certainly.  

“Did we do enough to get a share of the spoils? I don’t know. What I will say is that there was very little between the two teams. At this level now in the First Division, there is nothing, there is nothing between the teams. Absolutely nothing.” 

Playing on a Friday before traveling to Wicklow on a Monday – and then going again this Friday is not how Murphy’s schedule would pan out in an ideal world. But that is the reality of this division, and he just hopes to be able to repay the fans’ faith next time out. 

“It certainly doesn’t suit us . . . it definitely doesn’t. It’s difficult when you’re down bodies, but it was a very tight affair, and the game was separated by one lapse in concentration from us and a good finish by Bray, but we didn’t do enough. 

“I feel more for the supporters. A good number traveled down, you saw them here this evening – they follow their club through thick and thin so it’ll be disappointing for them to head the whole way back up the road with no points, so I just want to thank them for their efforts coming down here, especially on a Bank Holiday.”