Gavin Dykes: 'They're up for it and here to prove a point'

Finn Harps fans watch on as their side play out a 0-0 draw with UCD at the Belfield Bowl on Friday, 25 February 2022.

Finn Harps fans watch on as their side play out a 0-0 draw with UCD at the Belfield Bowl on Friday, 25 February 2022. Credit: Clare McCahill (ETPhotos)

Survival is the aim of the game for Finn Harps this season according to assistant manager Gavin Dykes.

After last week’s home game with Drogheda United fell foul to storm Eunice, Harps got their 2022 season underway with a battling scoreless draw away to UCD on Friday.

The Donegal side had a massive turnover of players in the offseason, losing eleven players in total and Dykes believes if they can avoid relegation this term it would be a great achievement for the club.

“It was a tight game, we had the best chances in the first half, a couple in the second half. In fairness to UCD they are always a threat on the break, they have quality young players, and we’ll take the positives out of it. We are happy with a point,” Dykes said, speaking after Friday night’s game.

“Staying in the division [is the goal]. What Ollie has done over the last few years is a miracle.

"To lose eleven players is a massive loss that a lot of clubs wouldn’t be able to recover from. We’ve gone a different route and if we can stay in the division, it would be a huge achievement.”

Ollie Horgan named six debutants in his starting XI for Friday’s clash and Dykes was pleased with how they performed and is encouraged by how quickly they have settled in.

“It didn’t help that we didn’t have a game last week. Finn Harps lost 11 players, that’s a massive amount of players to lose.

“In fairness to Ollie [Horgan] he has gone around the world looking for players and they are all decent lads, good to work with and they put in a huge amount of work over pre-season.

“They’ve settled in well, it’s an easy dressing room to come into. The lads that are here a few years made them feel very welcome. They are up for it and here to prove a point, we saw we have some real talented players.”



Harps are in action once again on Monday night when they travel to Oriel Park to take on Dundalk (kick-ff 7.45pm).

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