 So it's time for our usual weekly League of Ireland chat and this week joining us is former harps captain former harps goalkeeper Gavin Cullen. Gavin good to see you again. Good to talk to you. Hi Arshing. Good afternoon They're good Gavin looking forward to another busy weekend on the on the League of Ireland front particularly for fun harps One point above the bottom two. It was looking so bright several weeks ago It's amazing what won the feet and how things can pan out How much pressure is there as they're now on harps going into this game against slag on Saturday? Do you feel Gavin? Yeah, there's just big pressure on the minute and the next five or six games are all massive games They're all cup finals for them It's amazing where the runner results harps have that they're still down there But it's coincided with Waterford having a runner results and Dundalk having a result. So The three fairly foreign teams within the league are on that bottom four. So look as I said pressure, which I suppose From from the from the results are proud They thought they may be able to get out of it And there was even talk at one stage of pushing on up the league because of these results It's such a tight league this season that anybody can get sucked down at this point Yeah, and it's amazing too that you could have what 42 points and you can still be sitting second bottom on the table again And it's it is like you go right up to to Bows and dairy like dairy or dairy or fourth on the league and 45 points and And harps only harps only eight points behind there You know, I know eight points is a lot of making up, but it's a very very tight league So it's kind of leagues I've seen in a long long time. Yeah, then obviously every game now is bringing huge pressure Harps boss, Olly Horgan was of course Disappointed with with how it panned out last week in relation to the defeat to waterford I mean a minute that For a change the performance just wasn't at what they was expected of the boys It wasn't there once the game They didn't look like themselves in the midst extra goals But they didn't look as a sharp or as hungry as they had in recent weeks Especially that done that game at home and another all our performances look they look really good So it's what I am and hopefully it's just a blip in the performance and it's not just a It's not gonna be going on to this week and a week after as well Yeah, how big a boost is it then that Ethan Boyle, Sean Boyle and Ryan Conley are all back after after suspension Because they were missed last week, so they were. Well, they were like but I think the players that came in and Though it should have been able to do and come in and get a result in waterford They're not like as I say, it's great to have all the players and squad available, but at the same time I don't think I think Barry McNamee was probably a bigger loss than any of the three Ben injured last week But at the same time like they're a little bit glad to get bodies back So they have they have opportunities to change the team if required Yeah, there's no indication yet that Barry McNamee is gonna be available for this week We're hoping that he is but in relation to him is is he gonna be a vital player against the side like slag or over Yeah, yeah, it's because look break and as we've seen he has done that at home He can pick a passing create a goal again It can dictate the game though the tempo of the game sometimes get his foot on it Which probably harps don't have a lot of players like him and he's very he's very good at that So obviously if he's available and hopefully is no he will come on the reckoning probably will start the game Yeah, there's gonna be many goals in this tie because slag or haven't conceded too many They've got an excellent record so they do and in relation to conceding goals It's the sort of game could be just one another or two one is it Gavin? You won't know. Yes, like open excellent. I think by our sham growers They've been they've been the best of season defensively And they've been good they've had a blip after the midseason break and they've dropped a lot of points So they sort of fell away in terms of a title shot, but there's still third in the league and they've got a good team Good squad Any game harps played them has been up and talking. There's been very little I think the last game from park I think slag or one, but a lot that was done the Ed McGinty is performance at night So at ball we take you can't see a lot of goals, but then you never know Yeah, and in relation to being in this situation before harps of lots of experience Of course fighting it out and the bottom places and the premier division and staying up The fact that Ollie Horgan's been around the block such a long time Does that maybe give harps an advantage now going on to the final six games of the season for which are at home That they've been in this scenario so many times before Gavin. Oh, yeah Look, you can't buy experience at whatever level it is in terms of uneven to among on things or Relegation bells are no matter text and always been the master of it. There's no two ways about it He's been he's kept harps up in in recent years where nobody give him a chance But this year thinks a wee bit different. I think the quality in the squad's a wee bit different I think the the they expect to stay up But I think there's not as much talk about relegation, which is which is good But at the same time there's still there there abouts, but I like I believe whether it's done that harps draw I or Waterford going on to the playoffs I think they should have all too much for any of the first division clubs coming up this time Yeah, two big games at home next for harps Obviously, they've got slag of Rovers and Saturday mentioned the club their draw. They're coming on the Monday the first of November So if you could come drop six points out of those two matches, there'd be a huge six points Gavin, I'll be absolutely massive. So it would I think you would nearly say that Would be more probably won't be enough in terms of points on the board But it would be enough in terms of mentality and pushing on for us the season to keep them up there You know, so that's a huge two weeks. Yeah massive two weeks For harps and I suppose the fact as well that Waterford are in cup action this weekend Gavin of harps We get a result that's thrown the pressure back on on the men from the south of the country again, so it is Yeah, obviously Waterford in the semi-final and they'll be glad to be there But at the same time if they end up at the weekend out of the cup and and harps four points or five points ahead of them Like it's it looks like a lot to catch up then for water for so it'll be a big mental swing as well So obviously if harps get the three points this week, it'll be a lot more difficult the task for Waterford in the running Yeah, the other game on Saturday shamrock rovers against Longford town You would expect rovers to have no issues against Longford But we said that before so we did Gavin and for some reason long for it You can put in their best shifts of the season against the champions so they can and the home advantage at bishops get to Yeah, long for a really supposed playing out of season. So there's no pressure. There's no On them the no in terms of results and things you got so players will be playing for contacts players will be looking to get seen by All our clubs so they may be putting an individual performances better But at the same time shamrovers are two ones away from one on the league So you'd expect them to want to get it wrapped up as quick as possible And I wanted to fully expect the three points there and Saturday Yeah, it's not very often that Derry City will be looking for favors off their neighbors harps Gavin But this weekend they would because if they beat Sligo and Derry one Derry are being thrust under that European spot So there yeah, Derry will go third in the table and if that happens, which will be phenomenal turnaround from earlier on the season and Hats off to everybody at Derry for doing that. They definitely look good They look the part they're working really hard and You look you can't see in terms of form You can see in passing Sligo when they're on and end up punishing third as well But it was a great one for them last week against Pats Soros against the sides at the second and in the table Soros Brilliant one as I say, they've been they've been a breath of fresh air since the Rehearsal has taken over and there's a real positivity about the place now at the club We played their reserve team a couple of times there and and you can tell and you can tell there's a They're underage teams and they're 19s of qualified for the cup final they're doing really well and you can tell obviously with the Investment from fellow but already that there's there's progress being made and things are looking good for Derry at the moment Yeah Just maybe coming away from from the League of Ireland side could you mention Derry cities on under 19s and You say that they're competitive that they've got a good side there What's your thoughts been so far in the in the opening Ulster senior league season Gavin You guys of course sitting top of the table who had four ones from three of them from right and said 12 At the top and these have a bit of a break this weekend So what's what's your thoughts on how the league was panned out in the early stages? That's been it's been very competitive the games we've the games have been very tight and very good A lot of goals are a good quality and so It's it's gonna be a tough league issue that we've played seven games and cups and leagues So far and each one of the games have thrown different tests like as I said about Harps and Derry have been have been excellent against us We the only side we haven't played yet is Bonnegie, which was supposed to be played this weekend But it's called off so like we're We're happy with anything going for sales, but in terms of the standard in the league It's been it has been very very good We're the addition of Monaghan, of course this year it seems to be that The guys from outside have done a goal are settling in okay Gavin. So they're they have they've got some good results They beat Van Harps and they beat Lederkenny They've lost to us on Bonnegie So it's been a mixed bag for them, but I spoke to their manager before and after our game and and they said look But they go and and they learn but no, they know that hopefully in a couple of years time They can compete with the likes of ourselves and and all but I don't think that I far away I think they've got the nucleus of some good players there. It's just on a new league You want to and it's good to see I think we're down in Monaghan in two weeks time So that'll be again a different test for us as well When is that cocktail Bonnegie game going to be played because that's probably the big game so far this season Given that the two user holding the top two positions. I think that's fairly early to say that Look, we've had a couple of some big games against Lederkenny so far as I say Harps and Derry have been More than good against us and and we're both unlocking out to get results against us So look, they're all big games It's fairly early in the season to say well, that's the top team. That's what he's going to be because It's it's it's there's only four games played So there's a long way to go like we treat every game both the respect and and and each week So I don't think we play Bonnegie until until December, but it could be wrong. But I think that's that's when it is You know, yeah, okay. Let's go back Two teams playing at the national level cup semi-finals this weekend pats against undock Bows against Waterford just find your thoughts on those two how they're gonna go Yeah, look cups and semi-finals days. They could go absolutely anyway The four teams are on it. They're all fairly good form. No, they're all fairly consistent form Like if you're thinking on paper, you would say bows to beat Waterford and and and pats to beat undock But I don't think so don't act of a brilliant record in the cup and Suppose it's it's they're not probably gonna qualify for Europe and they all are away but the cup So I'd say all the eggs one basket and probably go for done dock and I go for both to get the Water first was to pull it off. Is that a good enough distraction for harps than at the bottom end of the table? So it is it could take the focus of Waterford maybe in their own Yes, no, we've seen it before suppose in England and teams leave Ireland We've got the cup finals and end up getting Struggle their season sort of Peter Daff and the league but look staying up. It's the most important thing for any club If they get the cup final and actually make it that give them a left and a belief for some of their games going on So I would disagree little take the right off the ball. They'd be honest I think I think they would take more belief out of it than anything Okay, let's think I'm good to talk to you and that will speak to you again soon Enjoy the football at the weekend. No more. I should thank you, but