Finn Harps' end-of-season schedule draws Darren Murphy's ire

Finn Harps could have to play three games in the final week of the regular First Division season.

Harps are still alive in the play-off race, but the fixture schedule seems as if it could throw them another curveball.

Darren Murphy’s team were due to welcome Wexford to Finn Park next Friday. With Wexford playing an FAI Cup semi-final next Sunday at Drogheda, their League trip to Harps has been postponed.

Harps are understood to have offered up several proposed dates, but it appears as if the game will be fixed for Monday, October 14. Harps go to play-off rivals Bray on October 11 and host Treaty United on October 18.

“We could go 14 days without a game and then have to play Friday-Monday-Friday in the last week of the season,” Murphy said.

“We offered five dates - three in September and two in October - but unfortunately they weren’t suitable to people. You live and you learn. There were certain games this year where we were told that we had to play on a certain day at a certain time. 

“Every season, you learn something and we have learned a great deal as a football club this year. I have learned a great deal as an individual. 

“We have done our best to accommodate a lot of people. I have certainly helped a lot of people out and have learned a very valuable lesson. I ain’t helping anyone anymore.”

The October 14 date, if confirmed, could pose an added quandary with Harps goalkeeper Oisin Cooney expected to get an international call-up for that week.

Behind the scenes, Harps have been in communication with the League of Ireland Director, Mark Scanlon, but it appears as if their calls will fall on deaf ears.

Harps’ ire is fuelled further following the rescheduling of away games against Cork City and Cobh Ramblers in April. Harps were in agreement to switch venues in both cases with Cobh’s St Coleman’s Park not yet ready for their round four meeting and Turner’s Cross closed for a period due to extensive surface damage. 

Harps - who will, by the season’s end, have clocked up over 11,000km in away trips in 2024 -  also had little to no say in the scheduling of their FAI Cup tie in Cork for 5pm on July 20.

The League’s peculiar scheduling could now see Harps without a game for 14 days but, perhaps of more concern for the club’s Board, an October 14 game against Wexford would be a month on from the last home game against Longford Town on September 13 (31 days).

Harps went 28 days in August without a home game and between July 4 and August 2 (29 days) they had no competitive action at home. 

There were 21-day gaps in home fixtures on three further occasions this year for the Donegal club.

Murphy said: “It’s the outside noise and the outside obstacles that have been put in the way that have definitely affected us, but it has been like that all year. 

“We, as a football club, have done a great deal to help a lot of people in this League. A great deal. When our turn came around to get a bit of help, we didn’t get it from certain people. Those responsible know who I am in talking about.

“We are still there with three games to go, which is remarkable given some of the obstacles this group has faced this year. Some teams have only travelled 3,500km and we done that in a six-week period. It’s tough. They’re a young group, but they have kept fighting. There is still a chance and we are still fighting.”