Posted online: Aug 5th, 2010

Finn Harps will be hoping to build on the momentum of their draw against local rival’s Derry City when they travel to play Mervue United on Saturday night.
Manager James Gallagher will need his side to maintain the same sort of intensity they showed in last weekend’s match. The Donegal side’s manager is eager for them to build on last Friday’s result.

“In order to make the Derry result and performance a good one, we really need to push on this week and win down in Galway,” Gallagher said.
“We owe them one after they came to Finn Park and beat us earlier this season and it was without doubt the lowest point of our season. It will probably take to the end of the season to get that 3-2 defeat properly out of our system. However, we need to give them credit for winning that game and they will fancy their chances on Friday.

“They will feel that if they can come to Ballybofey and win, then they should be good enough to beat us in Terryland Park. If we can continue on from where we left off against Derry last week, it gives us a great chance to pick up three points and that would go a little way towards getting over the game with them earlier in the season.”
The match against Derry City showed what this team are capable of and they displayed mental toughness that could have been lacking in other games.

“It’s fair to say that it was probably our best performance of the season. We have played as well in other games, but just for parts of the game. Against Derry I though we remained focused for the ninety minutes.

“Credit to the lads, because they could have dropped the heads after conceding so early. However, they continued to work hard and got to half-time still very much in the game. After the break we really had a go and scored a great goal – it was a fantastic delivery from Jonathan Minnock and a great header from Packie Mailey.

“Although we were slightly disappointed at not winning the game at the final whistle, we were happy with the point we got. Derry are a very good side, that’s why they are where they are. We were really on top just before we got the goal and against a lesser team than Derry we would probably have gone on and won the game.”

Harps will have to wait another game before Kevin McHugh returns from suspension while Matthew Crossan is likely to miss out due to injury. Ciaran Gallagher remains sidelined.