A frustrated Ollie Horgan admitted that the sending off of Colm Deasy changed the complexion of tonight’s north-west derby.
Harps lost 3-2 after an action-packed jostle with Derry City at Finn Park, having played the guts of an hour with ten men following Deasy’s red card for a wild lunge on Ciaran Coll.
“The sending off cost us,” Horgan told Donegal Daily/Donegal Sport Hub.
“We were right in the game until then.
“Something different each week costs us. I can’t fault the effort. They gave everything, especially the ten men.
“Derry were the better side at 11 v 10; it was very even at 11 v 11. They celebrated like it was a Cup final.”
Deasy’s dismissal, a week after Mark Coyle’s red card in the defeat to Waterford United, means Harps will be down another body for next week’s game against Bohemians.
Horgan said: “We’re down a lot of bodies, but that’s not an excuse.
“We need everyone. We’re down to the bare bones. They’re a good bunch.”
Listen to the full interview below …