Posted online: Mar 4th, 2010

Finn Harps kick-off their Airtricity First Division campaign in Longford on Saturday.
And for manager James Gallagher it’s been a case of “shop local.”
All the squad, bar Marc Brolly and new signing Johnny Lafferty, are from Donegal.
Gallagher says that his side will be aiming to collect all three points at Flancare Park (kick-off is 7.30).
“I don’t know much about them but will be going to win,” he told the Post.
Harps have been boosted by the return to the club of the vastly experienced Jonathan Minnock and striker Kevin McHugh.
Gallagher is unlikely to name his team until later in the week, and while Minnock should start McHugh is still not 100% match fit, having been out for almost three months with a hamstring problem.
In recent years the First Division has been a bit of a graveyard, but with clubs from Derry and Cork now installed for this season (having been demoted by the FAI) it could be one of the most interesting in years. Ironically, they meet at the Brandywell this Friday.
Derry City are 2/1 favourites to win the First Division title, according to odds supplied to the Letterkenny Post from McBride Bookmakers.
Harps may be outsiders but a good start could be the key to keeping them in the title hunt, and they could yet emerge as the dark horses in the race for promotion.
The full odds for the coming season to win the First Division are: 2/1 Derry; 11/4, Shelbourne; 100/30 Waterford; 7/1, Cork; 12/1, Limerick; 16/1, Finn Harps; 20/1, Monaghan; 28/1, Longford; 33/1, Athlone; 40/1, Wexford; 200/1, Mervue; 250/1, Salthill Devon.