FOOTBALL: As the build-up continues to the Finn Harps U19s showdown with Dundalk this Saturday, team captain Keelan McDermott is confident that his side can bag the three points that just might get them a top two place group section finish- guaranteeing a home draw in the quarter-finals of the FAI National League competition.
“The season has gone well for us. We had a couple of poor results within the first four games but we picked up after that and went on a nine game unbeaten run in the league, which contained a lot of good performances individually and collectively. We have qualified for the knockout stages of the competition, but have dropped stupid points in recent weeks which leaves us needing a final day victory and other results to go our way to finish in the top two to get a home quarter final, which would be a boost, but I fancy us against any team on our day, home or away” McDermott said
The Derry lad is moving to Belfast shortly to continue his studies at the University of Ulster Jordanstown. He started his schoolboy football career with Oxford United before moving onto Maiden City and then to Institute briefly before making the move to Harps.
“I’ve known about Harps a long time due to my granddad. He was a Harps fan back when they started and used to go to all the games when he was younger. I made the move to Harps last August after the Foyle Cup. While I’m just over a year here now it feels like I’ve been at the club a lot longer. It definitely is the most tight-knit club I’ve been involved with since I started playing.”
McDermott is a holding midfielder, trying to stop the opposition getting on the ball and setting up attacks from deep positions. The Derry lad also spoke about just how the Harps U19 team captaincy came about.
“To be honest I don’t really believe there was any real lead up to it. I played well throughout the shorter interim season for the 19s, and was handed the captaincy before the first game of this season against St. Pats, which I wasn’t really expecting. But, I was honoured to have been given it. I believe I’ve done well as captain. My performances have been decent and I felt I’ve led the team well, but self-praise is no praise as you know, so you would be better to get an answer from elsewhere!”
McDermott has also praised the role of the coaches at Finn Park. “The coaches have all been great for the team as a whole and for me individually. They give us all great confidence to go out and play with freedom and to enjoy playing.
“They want us all to do well for ourselves on the field and off it. With them being like that, it makes us want to do well for them as well as ourselves.”
The captain is very much looking to Saturday’s game with three points a must, he says, in order to be in with a chance of an FAI U19 National League home quarter-final tie.
“Saturday’s game is a big one. A win will give us a great chance of leapfrogging Derry City and Dundalk, and securing a home draw for the quarter final stage of the competition. It would also give a great lift to the squad and give us momentum going into the quarter finals.”
As regards the opposition, Dundalk, McDermott says the visitors have improved since the two sides drew at Oriel Park earlier in the season and they will want to hold onto at least second place in the table to get a home draw in the knockout stages.
“When we faced Dundalk in Oriel Park earlier in the season, we secured a 0-0 draw. It was a game of few chances where we could’ve nicked it late on, but a draw was a fair result on the day. We beat Dundalk at home last year 3-0 and I would love if we got that result on Saturday. But they are a much improved side from then and without doubt this will be one of the toughest games of our season but I’m sure we will be up for the battle in what should be a great contest” McDermott said.
