 Talk League of Ireland football. Delighted to see Keith Cown joins us once again on Highland. Keith it's good to see you. Good to see you too Ashley and thanks for having me on again. Yeah good to see as well. You've got the latest club collars on you so you have. That's it. Yeah just about as you open the car to go to training so this is the only reason to have it all. I'll have to be prepped so I haven't much time to get changed when we get down there so just happy to have it all today. Yeah well listen you were back at Finn Park for the first time since since you departed. You did of course have a fantastic career with Harps over two spells. For you personally what was it like coming back playing for a different club at Finn Park last Monday? Yeah I must say it was strange now it was it was very strange coming back and you know I suppose being on the the different side of it and you know kind of hoping for a you know show and then I suppose and but at the same time because of things I've switched around I was still in the same changing room because Harps had the new changing rooms now and they're across the other side of the pitch so I must say it was it was nice to be back it was a couple of faces there that the V still around and it was nice to see them and it was nice to you know get a chat to them but ultimately as I said there at the start it was it it was strange going out in the pitch and you know so it was not representing Harps but you know once the once the whistle went you know it was kind of business as usual. Yeah Ollie said after the game that 2-2 was a fair enough result would you concur with that would you? It probably was you know over the over the 90 minutes like we still I felt ourselves we started we started the game quickly well and then you know maybe through a few mistakes and that there may be trying to you know play in the wrong areas we kind of invited them out of pressure and allowed Harps to get a foothold in the game and they got two two quick goals to see them and a half time. I thought in the second half maybe we had a bit more of the play and try to create things a bit more maybe seem like they were happy enough to maybe sit with with the 2-1 but then again created a couple of great chances near the end. Sam Long, our keepers made a couple of great saves, Andy Lines has pulled one off the line sorry Andy Kunz pulled one off the line so no that was it was really kind of all hands of the pump you know we created I suppose couple of good chances in the second half so I suppose you know over the over the case that the the whole 90 minutes I'd say a draw if probably a fair result yeah. Okay next up we'll just stay with draw harder because I've got Bulls now on Friday night Bulls will be buoyed by that one against Slago on Tuesday night going to the showgrounds and taking victory what sort of task do you expect them now and Friday against them? Yeah that's going to give them a big lift I suppose you know they'd have been disappointed conceding the late goal against Dairy last Friday night for Dairy take all three points down there you know go and then picking themselves up going to Slago which you know have been have been going really well you know to go there and to get to get affected at the showgrounds is you know it's quite difficult you know but then I suppose Slago went there on Friday and sorry Shells went there on Friday and got a result at the showgrounds as well so that'll be two Dublin teams you know have gone there and got six points and then you with with you should need to go there as well on on on Saturday coming they'll be hoping to maybe pick up their first one of the season looks like will be disappointed with the way that it's gone for them but yeah I suppose we'll have had a massive lift from that as I said with the disappointment of Friday night pass so they'll be they'll they'll be tails up come to draw harder and they'll be expecting to lift all three points there as well I'd say yeah our main game here in Highland this weekend is of course going to be the northwest derby of Funharps against Derry City on on Saturday you've already played in a derby this year Keith against undock in a derby that used one as well what's can you compare a louth derby to a northwest derby yeah I suppose having played in both of them now I suppose that there are similarities yes um I suppose you know with both sets of fans you know with in both derbies both sets of fans you know can get themselves involved in the game there was a great over and back down in louth with them and it's always the same whether it's in whether it's in Finn Park or whether it's in in the brandy well as well so yeah they'll look at typical derbies you know kind of but a blunt thunder but a you know archivist between the two sets of players not as well um but I suppose you know the having played in having played it in more than northwest derbies there's there's nothing quite like a Funharps Derry City derby really yeah well there's another one to come this weekend how important then is this game for Funharps against Derry on on Saturday Keith given that they haven't had a home one yet yeah I think it's I think it's massive for harps I think um you know when it comes to derbies like you know formerly goes like the window and a free Derry will know that as well um you know there's been size in the past that I've gone to Finn Park Derry City sides that have you know been doing really well and it's just it's just a totally different atmosphere you know the crowd can get on top of you they can affect the game as well um we've seen it in the past where you know where players maybe have done things you know out of character or maybe a bit rash in times and you know it can take something as simple as a you know a silly tackle or a silly booking that can you know change the whole flow of the game so I think harps will really be looking forward to this one I think they'll see this as a big opportunity maybe to maybe to get that first home one there's no reason why they can't know the experience that they have in the ranks you know the with Barry McNamee Connelly you know you only my hand at the last they forget getting a goal Eric Woods as well getting a goal Ryan Rainey they have quality within the side so there's no reason uh there's no reason why they couldn't be looking to pick up three points yeah well some might say that maybe if harps were to one this weekend it would probably be a league upset given where we're Derry are how far away are harps from Derry do you think on the pitch Keith because of the last number of seasons we've seen them a lot closer but that has changed this year has it yeah well I suppose just Derry seem to have had this great start you know where they you know have yes that look they have a great side and they have a great squad and they've you know good manager etc but they you know they're they're getting that bit of luck and you can say well you know they're creating their own up but they're picking up points that they're picking up wins scoring goals and you know 93rd 94th minute of games you know which is great but so that they seem to be you know having their real purple patch now you know there's always in a season where a team will struggle to put you know we'll struggle to get results maybe this is harps you know time where they're struggling to get a bit of form struggling to get a few results and they'll and they'll uh check on you know somewhere near the middle of the season or maybe it could happen on the night we don't know so it's just it's it can be a case of you know getting that wee bit of luck at the right time as I said there before it can come and tackle it can come in any form just to just to change the flow of the game and we know like a Northwest RV sorry a Northwest RV it does get the it does get the juices flow it does bring out something and players players kind of go to a different level where you kind of hope they don't go there every week but players do really rise to the occasion and you know harsh fans and you know harsh players and harsh management will be looking that that definitely happens on Saturday. Well you mentioned about a purple patch that Darius came through I'll tell you that's not a bad purple patch is it Keith you find yourself unbeaten in the league with what eight games played and you've got a six point advantage at the top of the table um if you're talking about purple patches that's the sort of patch that you want that it is a fantastic start for the County Stripes. Yeah great after eight games to find themselves top as you said with the six point cushion there um you know confidence will be sky high throughout that team you know you talk about the likes of well patching you know do you remember when I got there you know a couple of go over like four or five goals each already this season rolling boys as usual seems to be chipping in with goals uh I'd say they're I'd say with losing a couple last injury as well which we've been disappointed about then you have Paddock Magalene coming back and apparently he's making a massive difference um already just coming back in and just grabbing those games by the by the scruff of the neck as I have as as Ray Higgins alluded to their last week uh up and up up on Dilly Mount from they got the two one one laid on against Bose so all that uh all that experience and again just all that momentum you know is it just seems to be going Derri's way at the moment and they'll be hoping that that just keeps it just keeps continuing you look at the quality that she and I go versus have you look at the quality that Pats have as well so they'll be hopping their heels but the minute it seems to be Derri that are leading the way and as I said they'll be hoping that'll continue yeah the game in Tuesday now is we know finished two two uh could there be lots of goals in the star bit the weekend yeah well you know I suppose you know harsh fans and you know they would be saying that they're struggling for goals that they're creating these chances but you know they've been they've been struggling to uh they've been struggling to finish them off two goals will definitely lift the conference of strikers you know that's the way it goes um a game they'll be just hoping maybe you know they can keep maybe a few out at the other end as well we heard a young Maureenie come in there to make his uh make his debut obviously Mark McGinley uh Mark McGinley McGinley we're not sure if he's going to be uh eligible for the game on Saturday obviously his suspension is set off against Shamak Rovers so yeah look at a game Derri will just they'll feel like that they'll score in any minute of any game because of the way things have been going for them so yeah look I see goals I see you know I see a couple of decisions that the referee need to be strong on um Nick all that there mix it mix up a great derby and a mix of great ones for the fans and the spectators yeah there'll be a thunderous exciting start to it will there no indeed indeed and that's what that's what everyone's looking for you know as as I said there before like as soon as as soon as that game starts form will have nothing to do with it and you know everyone will know that and the derri players will know that too they know through experience you know and they'll have within the ranks of the management and there's a few players that have been there before in those situations they'll know as soon as they get there you're facing maybe a different fanhouse team than that then maybe is playing when when you're playing someone from Dolbon or someone from down the country for that you know so um they'll be they'll know what to expect okay uh Slega Rovers up against UCD on Saturday as well as Slega will be very disappointed with that defeat at the hands of both the last night um of course they were looking to maintain their push at the top of the table but they are fourth and you would expect them to have too much for UCD would you Keith? Yeah well you know I thought they might have too much for shells as well last weekend but then you know that didn't seem to materialize either they'll be very disappointed losing back-to-back games at home um you know 1-0's as well uh you know they had a great start in Kena as well you know top of the scoring charts so far just after eight games I know but he's up there with five goals so you know he'll be looking to get back back back on the score sheet UCD still looking for their first win um you know it's it's been a it's been a I suppose a rocking off start for them you know they've they've shown a well in some games that they can be resolute and they can keep a clean sheet of games just hasn't hasn't really worked out for them um again with the UCD you know they you know they they always have such great footballers as talented players really well organized really well drilled um but again you know they just need that little bit extra at times to see themselves through games so they'll be they'll be look they'll be going there as look let's let's just try and get three points let's just try and be nice and solid maybe let's just try and keep a clean sheet as is what they'll be looking for and whatever comes after that it's they'll be a bonus for them. Yeah some quite some quarters rather might suggest that Shelburne-Shamick Rovers is a bigger derby match than Funharps against Derry this weekend Keith but can Demian Duff's side build on some of the recent good performances and obviously that result against Slago and cause the hoops problems the cause the defending champions problems? Yeah well they have to believe that they that they will and I'm sure I'm sure Demian Duff will have them will have them well organized and well drilled um he didn't know exactly what's going on probably around the the the camp there over on Tallah um I suppose if you're asking me is it such a big derby as as the Northwest Derby I'm gonna say no because I'm totally biased in that regard and you know I think you have to experience maybe the the Northwest Derby you know even just to watch it you know it is it is something pretty special but yeah look I think you know it's a massive one for Shells last week going to go to Slago uh you know getting that one up there which is which is a difficult which is going to be difficult for a lot of teams going there so um I think I think Shams look for a big distance to travel for them with the quality that they have from the ranch you know with the squad and that's probably the biggest uh that's the biggest problem that Bradley has is probably picking a team that he thinks has gone out to you know win each week and then and then you're thinking if if something's all right I definitely have the players to try and tweak this so maybe his his embarrassment or riches he doesn't know which which team to go with or which players to go with so it's a great problem to have I'm sure a lot of managers would love that problem but uh you know yeah I think just in his situation I suppose with the investment that goes in there you know you need to be pretty pretty much one in every week that's the pressure that comes with the top jobs but I'm sure they'll be able to handle it and they'll be looking to they'll be picking up all three points we're going to talk the park yeah one other game at Richmond Parks and Pats against Dundalk I think this one was draw written all over it Keith would you agree again no uh Pats also Pats also have such great quality you know and and again Dundalk on um with what they've shown it kind of fits and starts this season that that they have the same you know they they have the players you know they really it could be it you're talking it wouldn't be a far away with the draw on this one um again you look the you have players within the ranks that can score goals um again it's uh it's a tough one to call but I think you might be too far away with the draw you get your fiber on that this week Ashley you'll see you might get a few points back okay I might go for home ones as well maybe draw it on fun harps listen Keith it's always good to talk to you it's good to see you and we'll chat again over the weekend cheers Ashley good man thanks so much