'Goals win games, not opportunities' - Darren Murphy

Finn Harps manager Darren Murphy cut a face of disappointment following his side’s match on Friday night as if his team left Longford Town with no points in the bag despite the game finishing 1-1. 

For Murphy, it was an opportunity that slipped away as they landed their fourth game in-a-row without a victory in the League of Ireland First Division as Harps sit in fifth position on 31 points, tied with Bray in fourth, and three points off Athlone Town in third. 

It was the first match after the mid-season break and it was the Ballybofey side’s game for the taking after Patrick Ferry fired home on the sixth minute. 

But despite creating the majority of the chances in the game, Longford found their equaliser through Jordon Tallon’s 59th minute goal which finished the contest 1-1, despite a number of Harps’ chances towards the end.   

“It was a very strange game, and there haven’t been many times this season where I’ve had the opportunity to stand here and say, I think we deserved the full three points,” said Murphy following his side’s drawn game. 

“We started really well and we got ourselves in front, and even in the second half we started really well again. We had two massive chances but we didn’t take them. Then Longford got their goal and got back to 1-1. 

“We created three chances in the final 15 minutes of the game and I can’t understand how we didn’t score . . . but that’s football, they are fine margins. Goals win games, not opportunities, and tonight, we created a lot of opportunities but we didn’t take them. 

“It’s another point on the board which is great, but I’m hugely disappointed that we let two points slip away.” 

Despite creating a number of chances, huge credit had to go to Longford Town goalkeeper Jack Brady for keeping his side in the contest, pulling off a number of miraculous saves on the night, and finishing with the man-of-the-match. 

And while Murphy credits Brady for the pain he caused Harps in his net, he still feels that his side should’ve put their shots away.  

“Another person might say, ‘That’s his job’,” joked Murphy. “I think we made it easy for him. The opportunities we had, we just hit them straight at him, but look, Jack had a good game for Longford tonight, no question there.  

“Longford are a good side, in fairness to them, they are in the same position as we were in last year and it’s not nice, it’s difficult and the games are hard, but I’m sure they’ll be delighted with their character and how they responded tonight.” 

For Murphy and his side now, it’s about quickly moving on and trying to get back to winning ways as they hope to take learnings from Friday’s match. 

“One lapse of concentration from us resulted in us conceding a goal and that’s the story of the night. I know both teams created chances but I think we created better chances and that’s why I’m disappointed,” Murphy admitted. 

“We got the point and now we move on to Kerry on Thursday evening. I think we’ve had a decent season so far this year, considering the trials and tribulations that we’ve been through the last few years at the club. It’s been a difficult time for Finn Harps and we’ve brought a bit of stability this season, I think. 

“We’ve played good football at times, we know how to dig in, and we’re in a good position, it’s where I want us to be. But we have 14 games to go, we have to dust ourselves down and move on. Football is about opportunities and we have an opportunity to try and get into the play-off but nobody is going to hand it to us. Actions speak louder than words.”