Finn Harps raise fixture schedule questions

The use of Bank Holiday weekends for games and the volume of fixtures in the League of Ireland First Division has been raised as a talking point by Finn Harps.

This weekend, Harps face two games – both of them at home – with Wexford due in Ballybofey on Friday (7.45pm) before Athlone Town make the trip on Monday (5pm).

Harps also had games on Easter Monday (home to Bray) and the May Bank Holiday (away to Bray).

Harps' double weekend comes after one long trip, to Kerry FC, and a few days before they make the longest journey in the league, to Cobh Ramblers, next Friday.

“Thirty-six matches is too much for part-time players,” said Harps Board member Aidan Campbell.

“We are doing what we can to support the squad and we would like to do more, but this is always a topic of conversation.

“I would say that it's something that needs to be discussed. I would like to see the data around the three games in a week. We should definitely be having this discussion, especially around part-time players.

“The turnaround needs to be carefully managed. Some players are working and recovery time is a big thing at this level. Two games in four days, it sounds a lot and it is a big ask. No-one is complaining, but maybe it's something that should be explored.”

The hectic schedule has been unkind to Harps, who have been down as many as eight players in some recent weeks.

“You wouldn't get too much opposition from other clubs about the 36 League games – they're all two or three hours from each other and it's all quite easy,” said the Harps manager Darren Murphy.

“It is pleasing that we have the two games at home this weekend as we won't have to travel, but then you look at us going away to Cobh next week. We have so many hurdles, but I can't fault any one of them for theri effort and commitment.”

Murphy cited the example of Ryan Rainey, who works in Sports Direct in Letterkenny. Rainey, the Harps vice captain, will work on Saturday after playing against Wexford, will need recovery work on Sunday before Monday's match against Athlone.

Rainey will be straight back to work on Tuesday and board the bus early on Friday for the trek to Cobh.

“People questioned me about only taking 16 players and why I didn't just fill the bench up,” Murphy said. “If you look around and know that you're not going to bring a player on, there is no benefit to the boy asking him to trek for 20 hours.

“We just try to manage the situations that are presented. We do have so many hurdles, but we just get on with it.”