Finn Harps are to ask the Football Association of Ireland to play the forthcoming north-west derby against Derry City at Finn Park on Sunday, July 2.
The game is on the fixture list for Friday, June 30, but it won’t go ahead on that date due to Derry’s involvement in the Europa League first qualifying round.
Picture caption: Finn Harps Commercial Officer Aidan Campbell, manager Ollie Horgan and players Danny Morrissey and Kilian Cantwell at a press conference. Picture by Joe Boland, North West News Pix.
Derry will play the first leg on Thursday, June 29 with the second leg to take place the following week, on Thursday, July 6.
Derry will learn their Europa League opponents on Monday, when the draw takes place, while the fixtures will also be confirmed on Monday, meaning the Candystripes will know if they are home or away in the first leg.
Including the game against Derry, Harps have just four scheduled home games between now and the end of July.
Although many anticipated that the Derry game would be pushed down the line to later in the season, Harps are anxious to have the game played soon due to the financial implications that a delay would have.
It is believed that the FAI have said they will not discuss the matter until next week, when Derry’s European schedule will be now.
However, Harps officials have confirmed that they will be seeking a Sunday afternoon game.
“We would be hoping for a Sunday game against Derry,” the club’s Commercial Officer, Aidan Campbell, told a press conference in the Clanree Hotel, Letterkenny, today.
“If that was changed, that could put us in a situation. We would definitely hope for a Sunday.”
Campbell noted that he expected that things would ‘get hairy’ between now and the end of the season, but praised the club’s endeavours in so far keeping the club in the top flight.
He said: “Nobody has an idea that will transform a club. It is a lot of small things together. A lot of small things being done right has got us here.”
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