 Time to talk more football here in Highlands and in our latest edition of our League of Ireland chat We welcome back mr. Keith Kyle and Keith. Good to see you. Cheers. I'll ask you next round me on It's been a few weeks since we spoke Keith and it's most since the last time you were on Things have been going very well and we're on beaten in the last five matches down there at United Park Yeah, we've kind of as of always we've had that we kind of purple packs that that would be talked about I suppose it kind of it's the fixture that we have this week packs You know wasn't a good result for us and then we had harps in the following week Which we were able to able to get a win there and that seems to have sort of Catapulted we best give us a bit of confidence and then you know, I said as you say I'm beating the last five Another one in there against against the League leaders Shamak Overs, which was a big result for us, obviously and then That result Not really no, I suppose, you know, look we have our team we have our players You know we have you know a certain amount of confidence and we know we're good at I think obviously the harps one give us a give us a bit of a lift on the Friday night and obviously of the quick turnaround with Shamak Overs and on the Monday and Was it was the way it worked out and you just look you think Shamak Overs you think of the players they have available They can put out two teams, you know easily and make a lot of changes They didn't make so many changes come of us So like they've given us that respect and it was kind of one of those nice just where everything's went right for us as well And you know, we really we felt that Everyone's everyone's given like you know the eight out of ten and you know the keepers pulled off a couple of nice Saved as well and then I'm going down to ten men With the boat it might have been about 20 minutes to go, you know didn't do us any harm either So, you know, look, I thought we very much deserve the three points Now it wasn't like we were hanging on by any means, but yeah like that There's a massive win and you know when you're beating the best team in the country It's it's it's going to give huge confidence to the team and then it's just again I sort of can't pull this on a bit and you know again and all the three games on beating although There's a few draws in there that you know, you would like to turn into wins But look at the same time You know, we can't we can't be too critical of ourselves We're still have that on beaten wrong for a few games now Yeah, and at the start of the season the way results were going there was talk of draw Had I been involved in that mix at the bottom two But there's no ten points to that that bottom two Keith and I suppose that period over four days of beating the harps And then shamrock rovers and then draws came afterwards This could possibly be the defining part of the season where we're not going to be involved in that Because probably ten points now is too big for those sides below you to catch On I'm never going to say that because you know if I was in the house dressing room at the minute I'd be saying look, you know two wins and you know, you're right back up there again. So, you know, I think Yes, the wins are hard to come by when you're in our positions But I feel that you know There's still I still all the play for as a time in the season now where squads are going to try to be fresh and up Managers are going to try and bring in new players. You know, there's always there There's always that idea that you're you know, you're you're trying to catch the team above you And that always has to be the objective for for what whatever position you're in if you look back to that harps game you know harps will warm up on that game and You know, that would have brought it maybe back into four points or something like that had that result stayed the way it did And again, we were going to him in that game, but we we managed to come away with a win So, you know, it's the difference of one game or two games that can you know Kind of swing those points right round and you know, we still have to we still have to play harps a Couple of times this year again So, you know, they're going to be looking at those games and you know, do you see the games no respect of them They're they're always difficult games as well. So it's it's it's a league as well We're you know, we're teams are picking up points where you don't really expect them to so Harps are by no means out of it. You should hear by no means out of it So yes, there is that gap there But I think you know, everyone has just for me, you know, take it week by week They're going to pick off the team above them and trying to you know, close that gap wherever they can Use guys you're only four points off top six. Keith, which is still very much achievable Yeah, look, you know, that's what you have to think about, you know There's no point saying oh, it's impossible or you know, it's not you know Yeah, we know we believe in what we have done there is is a is a very good team You know, we we've gelled really well together You know, we're resilient as a group you can see that by maybe some of the results that we've got But yeah, look, we were always looking up We have to you know, you have to be positive in that way and you know, try and finish as high as you can But I think we'll do that then and see we'll just be happy We'll just see where we are now take a week by week trying to get three points on the board wherever we can And you know by the end of the season then we'll see where we are Yeah, obviously the teams coming into the summer break. There was a lot of them We're glad to get the break Maybe the likes of Derry city who who weren't in the form that they were at the start of the season But on the flip side of that, maybe the break came at the wrong time for draw to user and such a good run Keith Yeah, you know as I say like when you when you're winning games, you don't really want anything to upset that momentum And again, it was that quick succession where we had three games in a week You know, we had we had harps we had shemmachovers and then we had to travel in Dalymont to play bows again That was a match where we went behind him We got back on level and then we were very disappointed that we didn't win it after our second half display Yeah, look Derry seemed to have started the ship again After, you know, maybe it was I think it might have been seven games without a win Which is not really the form that they would want to be taken into the second half of the season They picked up a well-known win last week away to away to UCD with a well patching penalty Who's been brilliant for them this season. They've probably been their standout player But yeah, look, I think they'll be looking to turn the corner now and you know They've got a game this week where you would think that they'd be looking to you know Obviously bowls is a difficult place to go But you know that they went there in the season and one to one so they've been looking to do the same this weekend Yeah, and from Draha's point of view use of simpats this week done dock big Darby the game after that And then bohemian so the games are coming thick and fast for you. So there Keith Yeah, they are and you know, I suppose as I mentioned there earlier, there are no easy games in this league There there's there's isn't yes, you know, you can see that maybe the divide between You know, maybe said the bottom three or four teams, you know Or so even half the table there probably much that you could look at it, but there is no easy games You know as I said there just before you know Dairy travel in the UCD and having a penalty a 1-0 win and you know, you see the points difference is massive They're in 37 points and you see you have nine. So, you know, it's a As I said, there are no easy games. Yes, we have a game now this week, which is you can see Pats after last weekend after going to ball with a and they've thrown away a 2-0 A 2-0 lead and then you know rovers beating them at home and the Darby on Monday night So they'll be under pressure. You might think to maybe to be to be get a win But at the at the same time It's a game where we've gone there in the season and got a point So, you know, we'll be hoping to try and get another point and maybe three if everything goes well for us Yeah, let's look at the harp situation Shamrock rovers at home at Finn Park Obviously a very very difficult team to beat but draw to have have beaten Shamrock rovers already this season Can harps do that? Is that possible at all on Friday night Keith? Absolutely, you know, I think harps have shown obviously last week, you know, being a standout Been a standout point for them. And you know when when the game is, you know, a lot of people would have said the game was gone You know Pats made four subs in the last 10 minutes to maybe, you know, try and freshen legs and you know Keep things keep a few players a bit fresher for Monday night Which maybe they thought was the game and you know that they were gonna be tested most in Especially being two nil ahead but harps have shown, you know massive resilience to come back and you know a real spirit to you know To keep plugging away and you know, I think teams know when they go to Balafay I know I feel even going around to draw it and now and you know speaking to other players around the league like teams Don't like going to Balafay. They just they just don't like it for because they know it's gonna be a battle They know it's gonna be a lot of you know defending corners and long throws and you know set pieces And you know and that's tough Especially when a lot of teams in the league like to get the ball and like to play and like to you know kind of have it a more tidier affair, but Look, they've shown that they can take points against big teams, you know Crilla with a goal and Ethan Boyle with the header right right at the death You know, I think if harps can keep it tight and just I think it's just it's about staying in the game You know, yes that they come back and you know after being two nil down with ten minutes to go and get a two All draw which is great, but you know, it's you can't be doing that every week You know, those are kind of one-off type type of performances and maybe me saying that now They might go and do it again this week But I think that if they can remain in the game if they can frustrate Shamrock overs and that means just you know staying staying focused staying switched on for the entire of the game You know plugging those gaps or moving together loads of communication, you know And then just pressing them, you know when when they get the opportunity, you know That you can maybe try and make one from a set piece or or, you know You know, maybe a lapse in concentration at the back for them because you know, they'll have big games coming up now They have Europe on their mind as well So no, this might be an opportunity to catch them. We've a code they played on Monday night as I mentioned their rovers play pads So, you know, they'll yes, they have the idea of the whole professionalism and you know Be able to recover properly and all that but look there's an opportunity for harps to know to next something If they're right and if they have to do something properly Yeah, you've been in the Ollie Horgan dressing room. So you have an an O speaking to Ollie through the years Conceding first is Something that he doesn't like in matches when harps have to have to chase matches or chase games He'd be banging away at that drum again after the performance the last night and telling his guys to make sure they Don't concede first on Friday Yes, he will of course he will but I think, you know, that's not just an Ollie Horgan thing I think that'll go for every manager in the league, you know that conceding I think it's about maybe not conceding but it's conceding early I think that conceding early because it I suppose the game plan goes out the window, you know I think for harps on Friday night, it'll be about remaining in the game No, try not to be you know, try not give them a two-goal head start this time Be or you know, or whatever it might be But sometimes again, you know with that goal or with that early goal It sometimes takes a pressure off teams and you see teams that you know at times You know once they go a goal behind then they actually start to play because you know, they have to A lot of times it's about, you know, I suppose if it's Nell Mill, you have something to hold on to But if it's you know, if you're 1-0 down, then you have to go you have to go after the game You have to chase the game So that's when you when a lot of teams can actually you know with that pressure off They can go and play then and they can put in better performances and you know Ultimately score maybe a different type of goal that isn't you know from a set piece I know we touched on Derry early on and Derry's form hasn't been as we mentioned at the start of the season I'm quite sure Derry City Manager Rory Higgins has sort of fed up listening to at this stage Even though they needed a penalty against UCD the last day to take victory A couple of tweaks and maybe an injured player back in McAulay difference and You know yourself you've been involved in teams Keith when you get into sort of a rut It's hard to get out of but all it takes is a tweak or two to do that And it's just finding the supposed right that the right combination for that to happen Yeah, you know, I suppose when you look at the start of the season, you know, Derry were taking up you know getting results but getting them late on in games You know, so they were staying in games or you know, they were controlling games They were you know getting to the latter stages injury time, you know getting injury time winners And you kind of think you know, is that sustainable for the rest of the season? Ultimately it is difficult to do that Look, there's no one doubt on the quality that Derry had the players that they have available You know the the players that they brought in, you know, Jean McGonigal is leading score in the league. I think Paxton might be third So, you know, you've got two to the top scores first and third, you know So they've they've got the quality they've got everything right But just something isn't for some reason and I know they have a couple of injuries at the moment as well But you know something just isn't clicking for them at the moment And you know with with those lads coming back in I'm sure they'll be able to get things Say, you know back up in one the way they want and they get everyone on the feeling and get playing it the way they have me Yeah, okay. We mentioned already draw at your own club against St. Paxton and down dock playing UCD You'll be keeping a close eye on Saturday night Slaggo Rovers against Shelburne Two of the teams that draw had a are chasing down as well Keith and as we mentioned you're just about three points off Shelburne four plans four points off Bose and seven off fifth place Slaggo Rovers So if Derry was to beat Bose and Slaggo and Shelburne Was to draw on Saturday nights and you guys were to be were to beat Pat's that would be a good weekend, would it Keith? That'd be a great weekend I'll have some butts in there actually to be quite honest Yeah, if that'd be great. Yeah Look, I think yeah, look you can't be looking too far ahead with that there Obviously, look, we'll have one eye on that game as well To see how that goes, you know We played Slaggo last week and NLNL at home and maybe disappointed that we didn't get a bit more It wasn't a great game for the spectator, but Definitely, you know, there was opportunities Maybe both teams might be saying the exact same thing as there wasn't much in the game But you know near the end there was a couple of chances for for each team and you know Again frustration for frustrated on both sides that none of them were taken. I'm sure but I suppose maybe a point isn't a bad result Um, especially after getting beat earlier in the season by by Slaggo and Just I suppose look at that Slaggo game this week. I'm shells traveling up there shells beat them at home Earlier in the season. So, you know Slaggo will be wanting to put that right Obviously new manager coming in there as well. So Matt Russell will be looking to you know try and I suppose get them moving forward You know putting his own stamp on things, you know, they have Europe coming up now as well So, you know big big couple of weeks for Slaggo and I think you draw there I think be happy with the draw just if I could sort of keep the whole thing ticking over that that way Yeah, just fine. I never asked you about your own form Were you happy with how you've been performing with draw it particularly in that five game on beaten run Keith? Yeah, look, I suppose, you know, actually I played I played the harps game I played the shamor goers game and then I picked up a bit of a niggle on the in the in the bows game So I've been sort of nursing that for the for the past week or two So I'm sort of hopefully this week now. I say I'll be back. I'll be back in contention for a spot I think it's maybe just the the quick turnaround in games that may be a bit of traveling that was happening Up on up up with that But look I say I've been very happy with the way it's been going, you know You know speaking to the manager on that there and you know, we're both we're both happy with the move I suppose when you're, you know, you never know how it's going to go but He says he's delighted with it. You know, I'm really happy with the way it's gone so far and you know It just says to be to be back playing football and the and the league of Ireland It's really something that I didn't think was Something that I'll be looking to do But I'm just I'm delighted that the move came about and with the way it's gone, you know Just so far I'm touch wood. Everything's everything's been going great. Good stuff He's not planning to get ready then during the transfer window. Well, I hope not. You never know. They ever know You never know where I don't think there's any big money moves. I'll be keeping an eye on sports I don't see anything happening this far. All right, listen Keith. It's always good to see and good to catch up on the best The log of the football the weekend. See you Josh and thank you