'I'm not changing what we're doing, we're going in the right direction' - Murphy

They may have been a large portion of disgruntled fans that left Finn Park on Friday night, upset that the home side could only come away with one point against ninth-placed Kerry FC, but manager Darren Murphy is adamant his Finn Harps side is moving in the right direction. 

It’s not a result that Murphy’s side will be happy with in a game everyone felt Harps should’ve won, but the home side manager refuses to criticise his team, stating that the most important thing about the performance was that every player gave their all until the final whistle. 

Whatever negative air that was lurking around Finn Park was immediately extinguished by Murphy’s positive attitude.   

“I feel very privileged to be standing here and talking about it being a frustrating evening considering some of the nights I have had here in the past,” said Murphy.  

“It’s not nice that some supporters have gone home disappointed, but I won’t change anything, it’s not who I am. All I want the players to do in every game is leave all they have on the pitch and fight hard for 90 minutes, and we did that.” 

The Donegal side dominated possession throughout the match with the Finn Park crowd growing agitated as the match went on that Harps couldn’t put Kerry away, but Murphy notes that it’s a step in the right direction.  

“We made it very difficult for Kerry, especially our defence, and probably on another day, with a lucky bounce of the ball, we could’ve won that game,” he said. 

“We had a penalty shout which could’ve changed matters. Now for me, it was too far away to call but the players’ reaction told me that we probably should’ve had a penalty but look, some decisions you get and some you don’t, you just have to move on.  

“The players are adamant that the Kerry player put his elbow out and that we should’ve had a penalty. I’m a great believer, maybe because I’m a past player, that players’ reactions say a lot.  

“We don’t really appeal a lot in matches because we’re a very quiet group, maybe we need to be a bit noisier on the pitch, but we had eight players around the referee, it was just unfortunate we didn’t get that call but it’s another point gained and another point that’s moving us in the right direction.” 

The majority of Harps’ chances came from set-pieces and corners, largely conducted by captain Tony McNamee, and while players such as Jamie Watson, Conor Tourish, and Patrick Ferry had a number of opportunities at goal, that final shot never came their way. 

“We work very hard on set-pieces, it’s a massive part of the game now and you’re right we had a number of opportunities from set-pieces, but the Kerry goalkeeper made a few brilliant saves to deny us goals, but we had chances, and we didn’t score, that’s football.” 

Finn Harps now stand in third on 11 points after six matches, three points behind Cork City who are top of the table. And while some might point to the points dropped by the Donegal club, Murphy notes how far the side has come when you compare to where they were this time last year. 

“Yeah, people will talk about our record away from home and how good it is at the minute, but we’ve done alright at Finn Park too,” he claims.  

“We drew with Cork, who are obviously favourites to win the league, and then we’ve lost a game and drew a game here too, so from that point of view it’s good, especially when you consider we’ve only won four games last season at home. 

“We’ve come a long way, we have 11 points after six games which I’m very happy with, and long may it continue. The players are learning, and they’re disappointed with this result so that also shows the winning mindset they’re in. 

“People are always going to shoot us down, but what I’m most pleased with is that teams have come to Finn Park and challenged us, and we’ve always been able to adapt and change our shape and ask serious questions. So, teams are looking at us as a threat and that’s great from our point of view.”