Finn Harps need to be more ruthless say Success Edogun 

Success Edogun is adamant Finn Harps have what it takes to outgun UCD in Ballybofey tomorrow night (Thursday). 

Darren Murphy’s side are 20 games into the First Division season and currently occupy third spot in the standings. Their visitors sit second in the table and are five points ahead of their hosts. 

Leaders Cork City’s cushion is out to nine points but the play-off battle is really heating up in that top-five race. 

Edogun says Harps are content with where they are right now but admits it could be even better with some points squandered along the way.

Indeed, their last tangle with The Students back in May, saw Harps lead 3-2 at the Bowl deep into injury time. 

However, Eanna Clancy headed in a dramatic 93rd-minute goal to deny Harps all three points. 

Last weekend Harps travelled to Cobh but were beaten 2-0. The hosts didn’t grab their second until late on and, in between, Harps did have chances to equalise. 

So Edogun hopes their luck picks up when UCD come to Navenny Street this evening. 

“We’re happy to be in a play-off spot but I feel like we could be as much as ten points better off had we been a little luckier in games. The last UCD game, up there, we got hit late on and it was a real blow. 

“But to be in the spot we’re in right now is good but the aim has to be to stay in there and even climb further if we can”. 

Looking back at last Friday’s trek to Cobh Edogun, who has six goals and four assists this term, says the 2-0 scoreline flattered the hosts as Harps had been on the verge of an equaliser for so at St Colman’s Park. 

“We wouldn’t use the journey as an excuse but it is a pretty gruelling trip. It does have an effect. You’re coming off a long bus journey and playing a game then is not easy. 

“But if people watch the game you can see we actually dominate it. We got hit against the run of play for the first and, pushing on, late on, we conceded the second. Really, for us, the aim has to be to start matching the results with the performances”.

At present, the bottom pair of Kerry (15 points) and Longford Town (13) are in danger of being completely cast adrift if their poor run of form continues. 

But eighth-placed Treaty United, on 21 points, are just seven off fifth spot. So it’s a congested landscape between leaders Cork and the bottom rungs of the First Division ladder. 

“It’s really tight in there. A good run or a bad run could see you either make up or lose real ground. It’s really competitive. So the pressure is on every single day we go out there. 

“It’s no different now on Thursday night so we have to make sure we take our chances when they come. We’re looking forward to it”.