Murphy highlights financial challenges with three of the first four games away

Finn Harps manager Darren Murphy said that the idea of having three of his side’s first four league games away from home affects not only the football side of team but also has a wider financial consequence at the club. 

With the League of Ireland First Division fixtures now released, it is understood that the Ballybofey side will begin their 2025 campaign with an away date with Kerry FC on St Valentine’s Day, February 14.  

This will be followed up with the club’s first home game at Finn Park a week later against recently relegated Dundalk on February 21, before making another trip to Munster to face Treaty United, while then making a journey to the capitol to play UCD. 

Murphy acknowledges that it is not an ideal situation but one they have to get on with as a team. 

“Obviously, from the football point of view it's a very tough start for a lot of reasons where two of our first three games involve two of our longest journeys, with Kerry to start with and we also have Treaty down in Limerick,” he told Donegal Live. 

“That alone puts the club in financial difficulty because we still have to find wages for the first month of the season because we only have one home gate, so there’s more to it than the game of football, it’s everything else that comes with it. 

“The only thing that I find strange was that, this is the second year in-a-row where we will travel away from home on the first day of the season. I know the fixtures are computerised, but it just feels difficult the fact that we are away from home again on the opening day, so it’s not easy for the club or the fans. 

“It’s something we’ll have to deal with and overcome, but it’s a daunting task and it’s coming around very soon.” 

Murphy’s side are hoping to bounce back after failing to make the play-offs last season when they finished sixth in the league of 46 points, five behind Bray Wanderers in fifth position.