Student of the game: Adam McDaid finding his feet with Finn Harps

A first league start for Adam McDaid in 2026 coincided with a first away win of the season for Finn Harps, and the Letterkenny midfielder is hoping to push on individually and collectively ahead of a busy period.

Between lining out for the seniors and U-20s, along with representing ATU Donegal, where he is a first-year student studying Athletic Therapy and Exercise Rehabilitation, McDaid has been busy on and off the pitch.

“The ATU season, I missed a few games because I was ill, but that season ended in February. We didn’t get a home game, and we were away in Dublin every game. I think I’ve covered every blade of grass in the country by now!

“But you’re always doing something between games, going to the gym and doing recovery sessions, and then staying on top of college work, so the only day I’m usually off is Sundays. “But it’s good to have the balance, and I’m never too bored.”

Saturday’s 1-0 win over Longford was their second win of the season, which takes them into the play-off positions.

It was a first start of the season for the 19-year-old, who helped the side hold out for a 1-0 win and a first clean sheet of the season after Joel Bradley-Walsh scored a penalty inside the first ten minutes.

With experience around him, McDaid blended in well and impressed in his first start of 2026 to help see out an important win.

“The goal set us up well because in the last few games, we’ve gone behind and we’re trying to get back into it. It’s a different story when you’re trying to see it out, and they did pressure us in the second half, but we always felt comfortable, and we could have nicked another.

“But to get the first away win and move up the table was massive. A first clean sheet too, and we looked really solid. When you have Daniel (de Lacerda), Conor Tourish, and Joel behind you, along with Lorenzo and the two full-backs, it helps massively.

“Tony (McNamee) is just class, he sees the game so well, and he’s always talking to keep me right, which is big, he’s just quality. Then Oran Brogan behind is always protecting the backline and breaking up the play.”

That win put the Harps into fifth and the final play-off spot, and after a couple of years of missing out, it’s a position the side would like to stay in, if not move up further in the table.

“The aim is play-offs, and it’s been like that every year. We just want to keep getting results and working towards it, and we know it’s there for us if we apply ourselves and stay as a group and keep the boys fit.”

McDaid joined Finn Harps in 2019 from Illistrin, as he linked up with the Under-13 side at the club and has risen through the ranks there.

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A lot of game time with the Under-20s saw him make the step up into the first team, and he made his debut against Bray Wanderers last March as the side, then led by Darren Murphy, won 5-0 in Finn Park.

“I came on in the last 20 minutes, and we were already 5-0 up, so it was a good game to come on in. Darren Murphy gave me my debut, and I’ll always thank him for it.”

A first goal came in May of 2025 in dramatic style as he rose up with UCD goalkeeper Dara Kavanagh and, with his first touch, equalised in the 89th minute.

It wasn’t to be the ending he wanted, unfortunately, as the Students would win 2-1 thanks to a 96th-minute penalty.

“Some goal that was,” he joked.

“It was one of those where I was only on the pitch, and you’re trying to make an impact. I’ve been told to go into the box, and I jumped up with the ‘keeper to put him off, and it came off my back. It was nice to get it, but we ended up losing. It would have been good to get a draw, but I was still excited to score, they all count!”

An unbeaten Cork City side are the visitors to Finn Park on Friday as the recently relegated side boasts a record of six wins and a draw.

And while it is still very early stages in the season, Kevin McHugh’s men take on the four teams above them in their next five games, so it’s an important period, especially with the quick turnaround to Bray Wanderers away on Easter Monday.

But McDaid is hoping for results as a team and minutes on a personal level to follow on from a good display in Bishopsgate.

“Cork are a great side with a lot of really good players, but we’re looking forward to the challenge of it. At home with the fans, they give us that extra boost, and hopefully we can use that and get the three points or at least give a good account of ourselves.

“It’s important to pick up points here and there. We have Cork, then Bray, then Cobh, so we’re playing some of the top sides, but we just want to maximise points as best we can.

“Even this year, there have been a lot of boys brought in, which makes the group stronger, and you’re working towards getting in around the team. For myself, it’s about getting experience with the Under-20s if I don’t get on, it helps a lot when you come back up to training with the first team. Then, when you get in with the first team, it’s about applying yourself properly and taking your chance when you get it.”