Darren Murphy: Finn Harps chased a dream with a model that didn't work for too long

Darren Murphy says Finn Harps are building to make sure they have a future.

The Harps manager saw his team defeat Cobh Ramblers 2-0 in Ballybofey on Friday. Victory, via goals from Patrick Ferry and Jamie Watson, ended a poor run of form and returned some hope to their play-off chances.

Harps' starting XI on Friday included academy graduates Oisin Cooney and Max Johnston and the bench includes the likes of youngsters Kevin Jordan, Sean Patton, Nathan McDaid, Aaron McLaughlin and Gavin McAteer.

“This has been a really good year because they've been learning in the game,” Murphy said. “It's great for them to get the buzz of the Finn Park faithful. There aren't too many League of Ireland sides who have the number of young players that we have playing a full season. They will learn from that.

"There will be pain, of course there will, but we have a few wee shoots of daylight there. Those young players are glimmers of hope. They are the future of the football club.

“Our strength is what's underneath us in our academy. It's not just a matter of putting them in; they have to be ready. I only put them in when I feel that they can contribute.

“For so many years, we were a one-season club where players were here one season and away the next. We've never really had any solid foundation.

“For too long, we spent too much money trying to get up and then too much money trying to stay up. That is why we are where we are. We chased a dream with a model that didn't work.”

Murphy pointed to the sterling work being done by U20 and U17 coaches Russell Porter and Tommy Walsh in terms of what the future should hold.

“I believe in what I think is the right way forward for the football club. It needs to build a solid foundation.

“For an academy that has been around for as long as it has, we should have four or five players in our squad who are 25 or 26. We don't.

“We have four or five at 16, 17 and 18. We want to keep hold of them and then develop another crop coming behind them.

“Gone are the days of bringing players in and paying big money. We have to not look at what other teams are doing and look at what we want to do and look at what we are.

“The days of big signings are gone. I want people to be talking about the Max Johnstons, the people who are coming through the academy.”

Friday's win hoisted Harps above Cobh and was their first win in seven outings.

Harps had only scored once in that sequence so a clean sheet, two goals and three points were very welcomed.

Murphy said: “The run of results hadn't been good, but the one thing they gave in every game was that they were competitive.

“They have made mistakes, which younger players will do, but they stuck together. The hardest part about this game is going again.

“Nobody is going to give you three points, no matter how dominant you are in a game. You still need to avail of the chances that come your way.

“The boys have been hurting. I know what they have been going through. It's very easy to be judgemental when you're on the outside. The day-to-day running, people don't see everything that goes on behind the scenes and you deal with quite a lot as a head coach.”