Work ongoing as Finn Harps stress over goalkeeping situation

Finn Harps are in a sticky situation for this coming week’s match against Bray Wanderers, with manager Darren Murphy facing into this Friday’s game with the possibility of having no goalkeeper.  

With three games left to play in the space of a week in the League of Ireland First Division and with the play-off still very much a possibility for Harps, this is the last thing Murphy needed as he now looks to the club Academy for a possible goalkeeper to replace the injured Tim Hiemer and the absent Oisin Cooney. 

Hiemer, who is the first-choice goalkeeper, has been absent since picking up an injury at the end of August, and it is unknown at this moment in time whether he will feature in any of Finn Harps remaining matches this season. 

And the man who came into replace Hiemer, Cooney, is in Croatia with the Ireland U-19 team, who will play matches against the hosts, Greece, and Mexico in preparation for the Euro qualifications. 

Regarding, the goalkeeping scenario, Murphy admits it is unfortunate but something they have to get over as the club now looks towards the younger ‘keepers in the club to fill the position. 

“It’s an unfortunate situation but it’s something that we’re trying to rectify soon,” Murphy told Donegal Live. “At the minute there’s negotiations going on within the football club and the powers that be. 

“Look, there’s no secret that I’m a manager that promotes young players. A lot of managers say they’ll do it but I think over my tenure, I think people will look back and see that I’ve actually done it, and that’s been through criticism from all angles, both inside and outside Harps. 

“I’m true to the person who I am so I’ll continue to give boys an opportunity at this club. The young players are always going to be high up in my priorities in terms of giving them a chance. 

“There’s no point in having an Academy for the past decade and the work they’ve put in if we’re not going to give these players a chance and see the fruits of their labour.” 

The Harps manager at the minute admits that he is unaware of the length of time his two goalkeepers will be absent for, and if they will miss the remaining three games of the league.  

He admits that talks are ongoing for a possible return of Cooney to the Ballybofey club but admits if that is not possible then a player from the Academy, who Murphy admits has been very supportive to him, will be the next option.  

“Asking me about Tim and Oisin and when they’ll be back, that’s the million-dollar question,” laughed Murphy. 

“I would like to have that crystal ball that I can look into and it’ll say that one of the players will be available. Look we’ll do all we can in the football club here in terms of working with the U-19 side in the FAI. 

“We hope we can reach an agreement with the Ireland U-19 side. It’s happened before where players could leave international duty, if it can be done, we’ll do it but we can just play it by ear.”