 I'm the scorer now to talk League of Ireland football once again and our guest this week is former Fun Harps captain Keith Cowan joins us on the program once again. Keith, a very good afternoon and welcome along to the show once again. Thanks for having me on. That's a lot to talk about League of Ireland wise. You played in some derbies over the period of your spells at Fun Harps and you never managed to get the one at the brandy well. Were you a wee bit jealous on Monday night were you? Look I was just jumping on the skin when Foley found the back of the net. It's great to see a win against Erie no matter which club it is but I guess it makes it more special when it's a harsh victory. As you mentioned there we got close on a couple occasions on the brandy well. We spoiled the party there one night when they were going to win the league. Way back when I finished a two all draw we got and that was sweet enough going ahead twice in that game but the lads will be buzzing it'll give them a serious left going into the match on Saturday away to vote. Alissa it was a much needed victory because the four games prayer to that they managed just to pick up a point after having such a fantastic run. So the timing of the three points Keith was crucial. Oh yeah because it sort of made that gap now game between Deri got the two ones there after Ray Higgins coming in you know that reassurgence of a new manager coming in and the young players of Deri reacted that there you know getting a win away to Sligo and a win away at Bowles. So a day of bead harps there on Monday night it could have you know it would have brought them right up and behind them but it would have brought the gap back into a point but I know it's a really really important victory for harps. The way we look at harps now we're kind of expecting them to do something every week where that expectancy you know is there you know not getting anything against Shamrock Rovers or Apache haven't played well in both games you know that's kind of where the expectancy level is now so it was great to get back to winning ways you know as we mentioned the goal right at the death foot that man again Adam Foley on a great one of form and three points is massive as always. And in that period as well harps failed to find the net on several games leading under that so and the northwest Darby if a game of such magnitude to get back on to the scoring sheet again was also crucial so it was for all he said. It's massive you know obviously and again it was Foley was solving the two lads that are sort of Foley obviously leading the league in gold with five goals from his first nine games which is a great return much sure anybody really would have expected that maybe maybe only him but and then Carol Sullivan chipping in with two as well might be a worrying sign that maybe that's where the the goals are only coming from obviously it's great to see your striker scoring at your front end scoring but you'd like to see maybe the lads further in the pitch I know Webster got one that got the winner against got the winner against Waterford I think it was at Front Park which picked up another vital three points for them so I think they'll have to start looking around the dressing room now to see where they're going to chip on a few more goals from. Yeah aside from from the goals there was a lot of excellent performances by Fanharps I think overall they fully deserved the one and the three points the likes of Barry McNamee put on a huge shift so he did on Monday night aside from the goalscores what else impressed you Keith. Well I think you know Harps started the game really well you know they you know they moved the ball well they cut Derry open at times and Derry took the lead pretty much against the run of play for my money anyway they played some nice football they didn't really Barry had a great chance early on I think Olabi had a great chance early on and then as I said Derry against the run of play Accentundi's cut inside you know Sudiki maybe would have liked to have done better he's kind of gone to ground maybe a bit too early and he's to be fairness Accentundi he's cornered the ball into the far corner of the net which was as I said against the run of play some standard performances so far this season I think a lot of people are talking about Mark Coyle and you know the work that he's doing in the middle of park you know a lot of the sort of work that goes on notice at times he's getting around he's hastily breaking things up alongside him you'll see more as well who's who's come in as first season I think maybe just because of Mark's work rate in there and the job that he does and then you have Barry in there and the job that he does a bit more expected or seen more you know and maybe his you know setting things up and maybe you know starting attacks and trying to break through the lines that their type of player is what I think maybe harps are missing slightly at the moment because of the style that they play as well sometimes you know as I said they started really well against Derry they attacked really quickly Barry as it was getting into the box that's where you want them on the edge of the box and you know arriving late and there was those gaps then maybe that's how Derry got the goal so they kind of need to lock down that area of the field in the middle um but you know I think as they play more together I think that they'll learn more about each other and you know that will sort of settle down and they'll learn to play that style obviously you know we talked a lot about foley as goals have been excellent you know got harps to where they are you know the goals the style of goals these score as well you know not just six yard box or tapins or headers and they are there you know he's had a lot to do in these moments you know you think about the one back in the dumb dock game where he's you know the more time he's had you know there's obviously a lot more things can go wrong sometimes we say about strikers when they have more time to think about something you know a lot more things can come into play but he's taken his goals accidentally you know he's created a nice partnership there with McNamee you know find him in good areas and what they'll solve in as well you know and the other one that's really impressed me with his work rate with his strength with his pace so all over the park and then you know you look on the back line uh Sebeke who's done really well and a lot of games very commanding there very strong you know grip presence in their webster you know captain's role organizing constantly talking you know Mark McGinley's coming for a bit of criticism uh and and goals for you know the past few weeks maybe making mistakes but that's just the expectancy level that again that what I was talking about earlier Mark McGinley has pulled off numerous saves for hard keeping them in games and set the bar for himself so high that when he does maybe have a lack a drop off in concentration or that might lead to a goal or might lead to a shot and go people are going to criticize him and that's the unfortunate part of being a goalkeeper when you make a mistake it generally leads to a goal so um no I think as a as a massive result for them during the week and know three points in a derby the way they did it conference they'll be six guy high and they'll be looking forward to bowls now again I'm sorry I'll be heading to Dublin obviously to Daily Mount Park interesting when you see the table the three sides that are above harps are the the three teams that they've suffered defeat to this season uh currently set what six points off them uh seventh in the standings um if you were to look at that in the way the results have gone uh you would expect harps to get something out of this game now I know people have been talking about bows are a top four team but that hasn't worked out on the results sheet so this is a game that you would think that harps are fully well capable of possibly getting a full set of points in the road Keith very much so very much so actually I think you know we spoke about at the start of the season uh this is not the bows team of old you know uh with the experience and stuff you know quite a young squad there you know a few a few lads with experience um contrast and styles that they play I watched uh just some of the highlights there against draw you know the goal they scored is as good a goal as you'll see um in the league and in the league of Ireland no matter any other league you know keeping possession you know playing out from the back and tight areas with with men around them you know going back and going out the other side you know and a great ball a great ball from the midfield and you know tucked away very nicely um I think harps you know they've gone there previously picked up three points there at the end of last season they beat them at home don't know all about them they'll be well organized um as we say all he won't let the lad to get carried away and you know even having picked up three points against them and you'll beat them of the last two times that they played him he'll still be keeping them grounded the approach will still be the same be organized you know play the hard strengths and they'll be thinking three points will be fairly achieved all on Saturday night yeah and I suppose what's it going to take both of course of the likes of Georgie Kelly who can stick the ball in the back of the net and we've seen the the threat that that he posed they're a hugely a talented side but the fact that they're back scoring goals again it sort of adds to the whole thing doesn't it Keith? It definitely does and you know like Dillymount's never an easy place to go anytime you know I think as just as I was going to say earlier that the confidence and the momentum seems to be with harps at the moment you know they're ahead of goals and they'll and they'll want to keep that they want to keep those uh I think I think it might be I'm not sure if it's four or six points between them at the moment they'll want to keep that there and you know yes they have threats Georgie Kelly's a huge threat loves scoring goals against front harps has done it over the over the years you know still a young man still you know he's picking up goals here and there but not as prolific as he would want to be and like as I say he loves scoring against harps and he'd be looking to grab a few a few more on Saturday well uh Ollie Horgan will be hoping that he doesn't stick the ball in the net come Saturday evening after the game again suppose there's crucial back-to-back games we've got two the two left sides coming uh Dundalk and draw to so again if you had a good result it certainly will put you in a very not a comfortable position but in good spec as you are heading to the next two games definitely like um you know and again they'll be seeing these games as you know they've they've played on dock you know they've taken points off them or in this season you know going there and winning as a huge result as I say it's all about confidence that will give them massive confidence Dundalk not an agreeable on a form you know interim manager Jim Mcjelton coming coming downstairs from his director of football role and the management you know there's talk of David Haley the current landfill manager coming in there to the Dundalk hot seat which would uh be a huge boost for them with with his experience so you know everything's just not rosy in the garden there it's you know it's strange when you when you look back five six months ago Dundalk were playing in the Europa League group stages against Irish know you had fun harps that were you know fighting relegation against uh against Waterford and the League of Ireland so the fact that we're now talking about harps going and you know picking up three points against Dundalk in a very one able game you know that just shows you where they've come so they'll after this first um round the games they've played everyone they've seen everyone so they won't fear anyone you know there's probably not many if you look at the points you know 14 points from nine games you know a great return but if you look at that those running games there's not there's not many games that we thought we didn't deserve these points there was a snatch and grab maybe maybe the Waterford game but you know you've come from behind you've dug in you've shown that they can do that against Waterford they weren't against there the other night so you know as I say the guys love nothing to fear they'll be they'll be looking for Dundalk to come down and and and put up them and I'm sure they will look we can't go out on top and just say you know that they've totally dropped down but you know they they've they've gone to Longford and struggled to get a point there last weekend so you know it's uh it's it's not the Dundalk of old and you know Ollie will be and Hexie will be reminded that although to respect them but look it's very achievable that we pick them up points against these teams yeah that's to come in a number of weeks time uh Dairy City lost of course that Darby on on Monday night uh the two victories before that Keith um the last time we spoke to you they hadn't picked up a single point what have you met them since well they're saying you know the new manager coming in has given them a lift you know uh Ruth Higgins I thought that was a great appointment there was a couple of names mentioned uh no Paddy McLaughlin the Griffinville manager was mentioned uh I think Paul Higgard he was even mentioned and I was shocked that um two weeks ago would have been his last game and he would have been taking the job but that's hasn't seen the materialized uh Rory's in there you know sort of a Dairy legend you know played there for a number of years has experienced throughout the league played it also for Bowles and Dundalk you know played a season up on Corey and as well in the Airways League so huge wealth of experience still relatively young only at 36 um he's got an experienced man in with him as well and uh Raf Gattaro you know huge experience of the league they'll know the players and I think it's maybe he's got the reaction that he's wanted straight away you know with the young side I think from the side that started against Harps last night you'd uh Lafferty maybe at 31 the rest they're talking you know he's talking Keir Harkin 25 Atkinson 25 the rest of the last 2021 you know not a lot of experience in the in the league so um you're looking at that there straight away you know to try and get that reaction uh from the players and he's done that straight away you know going to going to slide going on winning great result real battling performance um and then um I think it was Bowles as well going way to Bowles getting a win later on you know showing that real written determination that that you want you know that's this was the least thing to be expected from your team so he'd be happy with that there you know and then you know just the young guys you know really buying into what he's doing so far um maybe the fact that he isn't that much older you know just at 36 that he's a bit more relatable maybe as a manager and you know he he sees these young players he knows what they're going through straight away as you know he was only maybe in their possession about 10 years ago himself so um you know I think it's I think it was a great appointment from Derry and having been a Derry man himself you know um like you know he'll understand what it means to the fans and you know everyone right this long yeah and they've got a game against Longford Town obviously on Friday night uh that would be a good game to bounce back from a defeat in the north west Derby they currently set just two points above Longford so one here for Rory Higgins say would put them back on track is that we expect them to be come the end of the season and then bottom four bottom five surroundings of the of the Premier Division Keith um I suppose the way that things have gone you know up until Rory's come in you would have thought maybe definitely until they've made that change it's hard to know now you know uh which way they're gonna go they'll be looking to get three points you know I think it's I think they're going to Longford this weekend so you know that'll be a game that they'll be thinking that we have to go in one here you know expect especially haven't gone um uh too too long for early on the opening night of the season and a defeat there which was a bit unexpected not many seem that common but uh like I just think that this is this summer now where they'll be looking I think to maybe the transfer window in the summer they'll need to get some players that we talked about you know of experience in there to try and make sure that they're creeping up and down you know creeping up places all the time as I said you know have they won and you know you know the width of a post away on on Monday night against Harps you know they had a chance just beforehand I think was Jack Malone had a shot had the post and then just after at the end all you know had a header that's that's at the post as well so you know they're they're they're there about that you know these young guys are you know as as I mentioned buying into what uh Rui Hager wants to do here and sorry Rui Higgins what wants to do here and uh you know he'll be expecting another big reaction you know a huge bounce back uh come the weekend uh one of the games just in the league of Ireland of note this weekend St Patrick's Athletic against Shamrock Robers is going to be a battle of the of the top two sides in the Premier Division and I suppose the way things are panning out already it's fair to say the title probably down between these two with with with Robers Edgin and at the minute Keith do you agree on that? Well the early pace setters you know you look at the squads that they have accumulated you know and we talked about you know maybe lack of experience with certain squads you know this they seem both sides uh Stevia Donald and Bradley seem to have got you know the the great mix of experience and youth you know uh and in abundance with both those squads like you know a lot of the lads that you know left on dock um at the at the start of the season or the end of last season have gone to both those clubs and you know with that you get experience in massive games you get experience on how to win leagues you get game you get a big game experience how to manage these occasions so you know with the early pace setters being those two I think you know Sligo you know maybe faltering slightly at crucial times in the in the last few weeks so I think you know we would be a bit naive to look any further than uh than uh pads and rollers of course for Harps of course we might have to have in the mix to you but no I think it's there's a plan so far the place in Europe for Harps Keith yeah I think Ollie uh question was fired earlier on the last night so I'm thinking what is all these good to kill keys be as far as he's going yeah it doesn't get carried away so it doesn't but this is it's a great time from Harps supporters part of you it's just really a pity that the likes of the Harps fans couldn't get into the Brandiwell on Monday night to to share the experience with what the players because it was the first ever one at the Brandiwell Keith and God knows when they're going to get the another one in there but it's just a pity that the fans can't be there to enjoy what's going on with Harps at the moment yeah you know they've had to endure a couple of rough nights in there over the years um you know I remember a few of them myself so that wasn't too nice like but uh yeah that would have been unreal you know like a last minute winner you know down that end as well that's where all the Harps fans would have been down in that corner I'm sure fully what I heard of them instead of you know heading around the back of the derry goal that a couple of derry fans and managed to peek over the wall like so it would have been great for them you know that's you know these are the games like the big derbies you know once the fixture list comes out you always look towards the derry game and see when that ends so you know that that would have been unbelievable to to share with them but you know hopefully those days are coming back now and like the next time Harps go in there they'll be expecting safe from them from the fans so uh hopefully they will let them down sure they won't thumb right and send could be the last game of the season is that right the way the fixtures there's three runs of of games isn't there yeah so it would be yeah so it'll be a great place uh you know to relegate derry if you're going in there season hard to get european derry to go down that's it away from the Irish league and uh what's our way to the Irish league actually senior cup for you guys glint hornigan's cliftonville on saturday evening um is the cup now maybe the last chance to solve a refuse bush yeah unfortunately you know things didn't go away last night uh corain with uh a last minute equalizer you know uh taking massive points and i suppose any whoever had won that game would have you know moved up a closer to linfield as they seem to be in the drive and say at the moment you know with only with with games running out so um yeah like you know it was great experience obviously won the cup last year you know spoke with you about it before it was fantastic achievement you know we're looking to the same this year uh cliftonville who we beat in the in the semi final last year will have an extra grind there as well and they'll be looking at it as their chance of silverware as well so you know it'll be a big great occasion unfortunately again no fans um you know irish caught always a huge occasion in any round uh and the irish league so uh yeah no we'll be looking to we'll be looking to bring the cup back to the oval again and you know we'll see uh cliftonville just as another as another game and you know hopefully we can get the right side of the result on on saturday night okay well i see the very best luck uh with that game this weekend keith as always thanks for joining us and we'll catch you again good match here thanks ashi