 So we're talking League of Ireland football once again, I'm delighted to say joining us is Keith Cowan, Keith always good to see you, good to talk to you. Cheers, Ash and good man. Well, big game for Harps to say the least, Keith, away from Finn Park on the road in Dublin, so Patrick's athletic is the opposition. I think you get three points tomorrow night, it will be massive, won't it? Yeah, I think three points, I wouldn't say it's a must, it's definitely a not lose, I don't think you can go there and come away from what you call nothing. It's not a place as those where Harps have done really well over the years, I think the last one there is back in 2017. I think it was maybe a 3-1-1, two goals from Danny Morrissey and a goal from Paqui Milley, got three points on that occasion. But look, it's, you know, Harps have been there early this season and they were beat 4-1. Yes, the last time the two teams come up against each other, it was in Battle of the Fae and it was a brilliant 3-1-1 back in August. Oh, I'll be getting three goals and, you know, we thought this was Harps and the ascendancy and we were going to maybe definitely move away from that relegation playoff. And, you know, maybe there was even signs of maybe looking towards Europe at that stage. But look, 1-1 on the last seven and a couple of draws in there as well. When you think about the last couple of weeks, you had a dairy game, you had to draw a game both at home. You would have been hoping maybe that you come come away with, you know, more than just single points on both of those occasions. But look, in there, the fight and chance, you know, all I'll have the boys geared up. I don't think there's much, they'll need much motivation for this weekend. And yeah, I think it's just definitely come away, come away with something and, you know, definitely keep it alive for next week. Yeah, and they need to get a result on it. I know you disagreed with me about the three points, but they need to get something out of it because you have to flip the pressure back on Waterford. You can play Longford on Saturday, don't you, Keith? Yeah, you do. And that's by no means an easy game. Yes, you know, Longford are then buried and they're relegated, but, you know, there's no pressure on them now. And there's an expectancy, there's a pressure on Waterford is going on that game. You know, when you're playing against the side and the league that's relegated and not from the play for sometimes, you know, there's no pressure on them and they can just go and play freely. And, you know, I'm sure they'll be looking towards next season and the manager will be reminding them who wants to be here and who wants to play for Longford next year. So, you know, they'll be looking to prove themselves. A lot of boys will be looking to earn contracts for next year. And, you know, the pressure very much on Waterford. Longford have beaten Waterford area this year already. So that will be in the back of their minds too. They have to go there to do a professional job. They have to get a win. And, you know, that is I suppose with them having to go to or so with them playing Pats next week at home. You know, this will be the one where they'll be wanting to pick up the three points. Yeah. How crucial is it you don't concede early? Because we've seen what happened in the last trip to Dublin against Shamrock Rovers. You don't really want to go one down very early in the game, particularly against a Pats side that has top quality. Definitely not. You know, and that's something that, you know, I haven't really been doing over the last couple of weeks. You know, they have been, you know, defensively quite sound. You know, they'll all go there with a game plan absolutely is to stay in the game and, you know, not concede and, you know, be right from set pieces. And, you know, you can't go to sleep because this is a game as well. When you think of what Pats have to play for for the rest of the season, they have a cup final in two weeks time. You know, they're already assured you're a paying football. This is the week where they could maybe let their big guns go and, you know, make sure everyone's playing and everyone's firing. And then next week, when you're a week away from a cup final, you might love to rest a couple of key players. So I can see them going full strength. I can't. And again, they'll be playing for places. There's lots of people want to be, you know, be in the manager's thoughts for the cup final. You know, we know the talent that they have with Benson, Forrester, Coughlin, and, you know, they have a great, you know, a great side there. So they'll all want to be in the mix for the cup final. So this would be, this would be the one that they'd be looking to test themselves and then put the feet up maybe next weekend. Yeah. Do you expect many changes in the harp set up there? I don't. I think they'll go with pretty much what they went with against Derry. They made changes against Raha. A few surprises in there. We don't know the full story, but I was, you know, surprised not to see Seymour in the middle of the field. I thought he's been excellent, especially second half of the season. You know, a lot of stuff that he's done, you know, has, has been of real quality. And, you know, as we've seen, what he brings is energy, his power from the middle of the field. You know, then he played against Derry, you know, did well against Derry, Ryan Redigan, missed out against draw harder two weeks back and then, you know, was in for the Derry game. Maybe didn't have his best game, but here we want to put that right again this week. I think he'll go with us trying to test it. We know that there'll be a couple of suspensions, but I wouldn't expect too many changes for this game. Yeah. So another big weekend obviously coming up and then the final runoff matches next weekend as well. Harps know that if they can stay out on gold difference, that will be enough. But what are you predicting then for that game just before we leave the Harps situation, Keith, for tomorrow night? Tomorrow night, look, I think I'm going to be as optimistic as possible. I think that although the Harps need a result, they need a result. And, you know, you're looking at your big players, you're looking at your caps, you know, Webster at the back there. You know, you're looking at Siddiqui, who's been brilliant the last couple of games. You know, Mark McGinley, who's come back in again, you know, a great game against Sligo, Maddam Ash Performance and really steady the last couple of games after that. You're looking for your big players to control the game, to organise, to give nothing away. And, you know, I think Harps will have enough. I don't think the game will mean as much to Pats. I think, you know, there'll be a certain emotional side to it as well that hopefully Harps will take over and, you know, need, you know, they will need to get something out of the game. Hopefully there'll be a vocal travelling support there as well. So, you know, I think Harps will do it. I don't think it'll be a high scoring game. I think maybe 1-0, maybe 2-0. Okay. And would you expect Waterford then to take all three points against Longford at Bishopsgate on Saturday? Again, again, that's one where the early goal could come into it. You know, if Waterford getting early goal, you could maybe expect them to steamroll and, you know, the quality that they have. They have been scoring other goals, you know, in the last few weeks. But if Longford can, you know, keep it nil-nil the half-time, then theirs are going to creep in. Yes, Waterford have a lot of quality, but they're a young side. You know, bits of experience and through there as well. But, yeah, I think the longer that it remains nil-nil on that one, it could be a tricky night for Waterford. But if they get that early goal, like we said, I expect them to go on on one comfortably. Yeah. Well, let's move on to Derry's city situation. It's nice going into two games remaining that you're still in with the shot of Europe. Yes, they do need a bit of a hand from Pats to one the cup. But Derry's still chasing that fourth spot. And very much all to play for with the Darby against Slago coming up on Friday night. Keith? Yeah, all still up for grabs there. It's an exciting time for Derry, you know, that they have that European football, you know, and their sights. There's a couple of teams there in the mix. We spoke earlier about Bowes and Dundalk, you know, being in that mix as well and not out of it. And, you know, we talked about Dundalk, you know, one time he's been relegation, or sorry, candidates for that relegation playoff spot. They pulled themselves out of it. Obviously, we know the quality that they possess. But, yeah, Derry very much, you know, is working towards this game this weekend as a real opportunity. You know, we spoke about the players already that Ray Higgins will be bringing in for next year. European football, you know, I don't think that they need it for next year. I think it'll be a real bonus for them this year if they do get it. We know that they're in a great position financially as well. And, you know, obviously with the players they're going to be bringing in. We know Duff Faisco and we know Michael Ainees coming next year. We'll talk about Georgie Kelly, you know, with his 20 goals already this year for Bows. Is there a chance that he could end up there? So, yeah, look, a lot of things in the melting pot for Derry at the moment. And then Higgins, obviously, he's going to be thinking about next year, who they're at Derry, you know, kind of depend on for next year. You know, you've got a derby game against Slago. They'll still want to be keeping the pressure on, obviously, and they accumulate as many points as possible to try and pick up that fourth spot if Pats go on to win the cup. He'll be looking very much towards next year, but I'm sure, again, Friday night's massive for them. Yeah, but it would be easier to attract maybe one or two extra players that possibly thought might have been out of your reach if you can secure European football for next year, Keith. If you can get a European game or two. Yeah, I think that can be two-sided, obviously. You know, players love to play in Europe and, you know, it's a great carrot to dangle in front, you know, as well as, you know, a big, you know, maybe a four-figure sum as well at the end of the week. So it all depends which type of player that you're looking to attract. But then again, the big players want to play in Europe. You know, it's another place to showcase their talents and, you know, a great experience for any player to have. So, yeah, I think, look, it's something that, again, you know, when Rory's talking to these players, you know, if there's a difference of a couple of clubs maybe wanting your signature and you can offer European football, then, of course, that's going to be massive. That's going to be great for any player to go and test themselves on that stage. Yeah, but you're looking at European football when you went to Glen Torm? It's not something that I had in the back of my mind, to be quite honest. It was getting a game of football and then worrying about European football. So, no, it's not something that I say that I was thinking about, but a great experience nonetheless. Yeah, because not too many players get the chance to do that, Keith, so they don't. No, again, look, you know, there's players that do and there's players that don't. And I suppose, in my case, it's not something that I ever thought was on the cards, but like, it's a great experience to have and to, you know, something that you always look back on. And yeah, to sort of tick that box in your career is a real somebody proud of. Okay, finally, just back to the bottom of the table and two games to go. And I'll ask you the same in a couple of weeks. Well, I'll check to see if you're right in a couple of weeks time. Who's going to stay out of the second bottom position and who's going to be on it? Who's going to go to the playoffs? Look, sure. You know, when you're talking, when it's coming down to goal difference, you know, it is very hard to call it. Like those teams are split by seven goals at the minute. You know, Harps and Waterford are separated by seven goals. The way that the games are panned out, if I was to put it like that there, if Harps had maybe long for this week and then Pat's next week, then I would say, I think Harps are in the better position. The fact that the cup finals closer for Waterford, for Pat's next week, that's the only thing that I can say. And that's why, unfortunately, I think Waterford, maybe on form as well. They're in slightly better form. Harps aren't in good form at the minute. You know, we look, as I mentioned earlier, one, one and seven. You know, yes, a couple of draws in there, but I just feel that Waterford at the minute seem to be in a better place. Players seem to be in better form. A bit of momentum with them. I just feel that they might scrape out and unfortunately, Harps might be in that relegation playoff. But again, look, I wouldn't worry about Harps in that relegation playoff. I would expect them to win that quite comfortably. I don't think either of the two teams, I think it's Bray and UCD are on the other side of it. And I would expect Harps to beat both of them, either of those over two legs. So even if it is a case where they do find themselves there, I don't think that, I don't think they'll have any trouble. Okay, we'll wait to see what happens. Keith Cowan as always, thanks for joining us. Cheers.