 So Declan welcome along to Highland once again for our usual regular chat about League of Ireland football Premier Division action involving Derry City and Funharps. Good to see you Good to see you, you're looking well You're looking to invite yourself Declan Well listen from a Funharps point of view There's a difficult period coming up to matches in Dublin are always difficult So they are way to Pat's and away to Shamrock Rovers Yeah, two difficult games for sure, so Pat's form at home has been excellent and we know how to perform with Shamrock Rovers around as well, so two big games Difficult to get points away on the road, but especially up in Dublin as well So it's gonna be difficult to get something out of some Pat's game on Friday night Yeah, if you are gonna get something from St Pat's, how's it gonna come about? Do you think Declan? Yeah, listen in the Premier League so far this season has been very evident that team the scores first None moves on to win the game and that's that's crucial especially way from home. So Harps We'll have to score away from home And our form way from home haven't been good this season So it's very hard to see that happening But you know, you just never know and football and you never know with Harps Sometimes they can be just big results when needed and against St Pat's they'll obviously looking for leave it I'll look at a big performance and maybe An under performance by St Pat's on the day as well might help them as well St Pat's as we know are pushing for Europe They're in fourth place eight points ahead of slider Rovers And they're looking to get the third if possible and cast on Docker. So they have Yeah, and in relation to Harps recent form obviously you watch them against UCD and Dublin at the Belfed That was one of our future games this season and they were on the wrong side of the result But they bounced back after that brilliantly so they did and they had the break in the cup then last week So maybe the break came out at a bad time for Harps to the Declan Yeah, you listen come back to UCD one minute, which are a bit Obviously live, but the first half forms was excellent against UCD and then just the game kind of pulled Wound away from you would both to send an off and then the goal from there in the Calford And then just sat in a little bit deeper at UCD and we just struggled to break them down And then you're thinking that's it's a big turnaround And it's gonna take a massive push now for you for Harps to get a big result in them We did the local derby against slider Rovers and then a big performance in a 3-2 victory Which was you know really pushed them two points ahead of UCD So a big turnaround there in that game and it was nice in performance against slider Rovers and well deserved the three points So yeah weeks rest will help players that are picking up any injuries gives them an extra week's rest So you're looking at hopefully everybody fully fit and well We know Ryan Connelly is obviously missing Sipat's match other picking up two yellow cards against slider Rovers And he will be a big miss for sure But there's a group of placements come in and we'll play against Sipat's so the conference should be good But you just never know in regards to how we're going to perform You know it's been very up and down in season and we're producing good performances But yeah, absolutely good performance against UCD didn't get the points a really good performance against slider Rovers and got three points So now can they go to Sipat's and get something out of the game and a draw would be a big result for us Yeah draw would put a good point on the road Just touching on UCD game because Declan we know we have to play them in the second last game Isn't it the penultimate game at home? That could be probably the most important fixture of the season Come come that stage of the campaign. Yeah, this is gonna be exciting running for sure We know we nine games left and they'll come break very very fast obviously five away forward home We have UCD you say second last match this season And what's what you want to do and that sort of chances You want to make sure that you're you're ahead of them or at least you have a chance of going and leapfrogging And then into the last game this season which is a way to draw in edit Which is not a bad game that we have last match this season Was all to play for but yeah listen We have to make sure we start picking on more points and try to put a bit of distance between ourselves and UCD We know did a big result in the FAI cup away to Galway 3-2 victory for them So they're still in that's that's actually good Perhaps because they're playing more matches and they might pick up injuries and suspensions as well So might have a negative effect on them and the performance and results But this but harps and what we do and obviously when you start putting the points along the way But a home farms probably our best Best opportunity to go on and one and get three points Yeah, as we head to the final nine games We've got two points ahead of you CD at the bottom current in the playoff spot Declan Would you be confident that harm's what will continue to hold that position? Difficult, but you know, it's you're thinking that the experience that both management have and the players have and You know, we have that experience of being here before And that will help us in the running of the difficult match we have ahead of us That should help for sure you need a run of not picking up brains reason making sure that your best players are Available and are playing to their maximum ability on the pitch and that's going to be crucial So suspensions will play a part on that and picking up yellow card and center-offs Could have a detrimental effect going forward for some of the bigger games for sure But yeah, listen, there's no doubt about it It's going to be exciting for the fans. It's gonna be nerve-wracking. It's never easy But when you're a perhaps supporter for sure, and so it's gonna be a very exciting running and I'm looking forward to it Actually, but what's what we need to make sure it is that we avoid the relegation and give us jobs and opportunity And the playoffs which won't be easy neither with obviously current Galway Longford, Wexford and the teams around there are very good opposition But it'd be difficult, but at least you have a chance of staying up and the experience that we've learned over the last four or five years And the guards playoffs will help us hopefully. Yeah, were you surprised by Mark Ganttney McGinnelly's departure this week Declan? Listen, I suppose it happens invariably I suppose you're looking at a point of view Mark's been a good servant of the club the last four or five years Has been good performances And obviously the new keeper came out and he was given the first choice and so mark I thought it was time to move on and as well as its part and parcel of football and I don't see him Closing the book on harps and maybe you come back in a later time and we wish them well once we're there Okay, then moving away from fun harps. Derry said he playing UCD this coming Friday night Derry back in the second and the table so it's second against bottom You would expect Derry playing at home to take the points in this one. Would you Declan? Yeah, absolutely. I think the last time you played up in the band they were I think Derry won very comfortably and scored a lot of goals as well. So yeah, listen Derry on good form They've got a late one or against Shelburne during the week a big deflection And got them three points again And you know, they're looking to close that gap against Shamrock overs and try to push away from Dundalk And with them one getting three points against Shelburne up in Dublin and Doc losing to Slager Rovers as well That helped it's a big victory for them coming so late So they'll make sure the momentum is going forward for Gary Silly They'll be pushing hard to get to secure that second spot And try to push Shamrock overs as far as they possibly can to get the first position But yeah, listen, I'm expecting Derry Silly with the squad of players They have the form that they're currently and I expect them to get three big points Which will obviously help Find harps as well. And that's invariably if we can get something out of the game I don't see UCD getting three points or are even getting a point up in that brandy So we can get something out of the game A lad to us and push a bit more distance between us and UCD Obviously Slager taking the points against Dundalk Help Derry Dundalk will be looking for a response in their match Against Shelburne now this weekend But can Shelburne go to Oriel and cause problems? Can Demi and Duff say pick up points there? Yeah, they've been very good away from home Their performances have been good away from home They've beaten the top teams So I don't, you know, Dundalk had a poor performance against Slager Rovers overall You know, bad result to Nell as well away from home Players sent off fairly early in the game Didn't help them with their cause at the 23rd minute But they'll be looking obviously at home They've been good at home and they've got big results in home But so Shelburne been very good away from home And they sat in and it'd be difficult to break down And they've had teams in the counter attack And they've done really good performances and got a lot of points so far away from home So that's not a done deal Dundalk might just script to that one But I wouldn't be surprised if Shelburne get a result there like him Yeah, and also on Friday night, Bohemians against Shamrock Rovers There's this European distraction for Shamrock Rovers Is this a good time for bows to meet Shamrock Rovers? Because there's always huge rival right between between these two clubs And in saying that as well, Declan, maybe if we go knock on to Sunday week When Van Harp's go to the Talus Stadium to play Shamrock Rovers During a European champion, is it a good time to meet opposition? I think it is I think it is, especially if the European adventure is away from home Rather than home, so they've got a lot of travel involved I mean, they have more games, higher intensity When you have higher intensity games, you end up picking up more injuries From the squad point of view So as well as that squad that Shamrock Rovers have Which is very strong But it means as well that with European games They might rotate players in and out and rest some of their better players You know, they're a really comfortable position in the league They have the squad, they have the quality But definitely European games It's very difficult for the from coming back from the European game To get motivated for the Premier Division matches Even though they've done it so far But you can be unlocked by some games And bows are looking up to a big derby As you say, massive rivalry between the supporters and the clubs Keith Long getting the sack as well this week Has added a bit more, I suppose, a bit more flavour to the actual match Because they're obviously having no manager So they'll be looking for a response and push Shamrock Rovers And try to get something out of that game as well So yes, it's a big game for both clubs In both teams coming back from Europe And obviously with bows losing a manager, Keith Long So the players are looking to get a response and show them That they are a good team and they have good players And losing a manager, hopefully, won't have a negative effect on their performance One other tie to be played on Saturday Slego Rovers taking on draw to United Declan As opposed to Slego, we're enjoying their European experience And it's back to that point What happens when you go out of Europe and how you respond It's sort of been a rocky road for Slego But they have that one against Dundalk They'll be looking now to build now over the next number of weeks And build in that result against Dundalk Start picking up points again Yeah, that's what they're going to have to do I think the human jungler is fully aware that he needs to get results There's eight points between them and St. Pat's And St. Pat's is sitting in fourth So Slego Rovers are in fifth So they need to get points to close that gap And hopefully secure maybe a fourth spot And maybe a European spot Because they had a number of evil experience with Europe this year It was great for the club, great for the players, great for supporters And what it does is it kind of wets your appetite For to get it year after year It also helps your budget for the following year You have a bigger budget to work off So you can bring in better quality players So yeah, they'll be pushing for Europe You know, there's a lot of games to play Still a lot of points to be played for And you know, St. Pat's are in the driving seat At the moment over Slego Rovers And regards the points and where they sit on the table But Slego will need to start winning games And getting four or five matches back to back And I suspect that they'll get three points at home And to draw a net on Saturday night Just a simple fact, draw a net and quit away from home Living better at home And slide up in a Dweebilla form as well Okay, Declan, we'll get to see how the results pan out Over the course of the Friday and Saturday In the League of Ireland Premier Division as always Thanks for joining us Thanks, Tony Nushing