Finn Harps manager Darren Murphy looking for solutions, character – and hope

Darren Murphy has been around the block often enough to realise what he was letting himself in for.

Murphy had a distinguished career as both a player and a coach in the Irish League and has been a regular pundit on BBC Radio Ulster. He has seen all parts of the game, from its brightest lights to its darkest corners.

It is perhaps why the affable Murphy has yet to flinch, certainly publicly, since being installed as the manager of Finn Harps.

After the departure of Dave Rogers with a handful of games to go in the 2023 season, Murphy took interim charge and was subsequently permanently appoointed.

Harps have had some testing issues this season, from broken floodlights that forced a couple of home games to be played in early evening to problems with the water system at Finn Park.

As he entered Jackson's Hotel on Tuesday evening ahead of a press conference, someone halted Murphy's march: “Bad result,” the person offered.

“Was it really?” Murphy responded in reference to Friday night's 2-0 defeat to Kerry FC at Mounthawk Park.

“The person said we should be going to Kerry and winning, but Kerry have had a drastic improvement: They already have more points now than in the whole of last season.”

Harps have two home games on the June Bank Holiday weekend with Wexford (Friday, 7.45pm) and Athlone (Monday, 5pm) due at Finn Park for a double header.

The experience so far might be different for Murphy – who has spent time at some of the Irish League's top clubs – but Harps' have felt different under his charge.

“It helps to build your own character,” he said. “This job has improved me as a person. I didn't have this at Linfield or at Crusaders, as everything was always there and ok, and I certainly didn't have it at the Irish Football Association.

“What I am doing is helping to build my own character because I have had to find solutions.”

Ultimately, there are games of football. Harps are in fifth spot, just four points off UCD in second in a division that could be covered by a blanket.

Murphy says there is something bigger at play too.

“Yes it is about results and I am not naive in that regard, but we as a club needed a restructure, a sort of a rebrand to give people hope,” he said

“We are trying to have better relationships with clubs in Donegal and we are trying to rebuild relationships. There is so much work going on around the club that we don't speak about.

“We just wanted the structures to improve. There are a lot of hidden things, but we don't let the players have excuses. A big thing for me coming into the job was that I wanted to see a few more happy faces – not just among the playing staff.”

Tony McNamee, who got married on Saturday to long-term partner Sarah Long, will be back in the mix for this week's home double header.

Mark Mbuli is available again, while Aaron McLaughlin came through a substitute's appearance in Kerry without any adverse affects.

Experienced midfielder David Cawley could also return, with an illness to a family member seeing him have to miss the Kerry game.

Kevin Jordan, who has not played this season, as well as Conor Tourish and Max Hutchison who have missed a large swathe of the campaign, will be out for another month, with targeted returns of early July in the case of each.

“It will be like signing three new players,” Murphy said. “We are seeing light at the end of the tunnel and I would hope three boys will be back by the time we get back from the break.

“If all three continue on the road they are, they'll be back in for July 1^st.”

While Murphy has always been keen to point out the commitment of his players, the Harps boss has brought his backroom staff in forr praise this week.

“They all have full-time jobs, but their commitment to this football club is absolutely fantastic,” Murphy said.

“We have been challenged since the start of the season, but we knew that could be the case because we have a small squad. Some senior players have been ever-present, which has been really good or us.

“I do understand the frustration of supporters at times, but all I have ever wanted was maximum effort.

“We have moved from a full-time to a part-time model and moved from having more experience to less experience. Everyone in our changing room has bought in and acknowledged that there will be bumps in the road.

“We have never set any targets and I am a firm believer of taking each game as it comes. To be sitting in a play-off position at the moment is huge for us and the big challenge now is can we stay there?

“Life can be a challenge and football can be a challenge, but when you strip it back we are seven points better off than this time last season.”