By Chris Ashmore

Derry City fans have had a near monopoly on the north-west bragging rights for over 30 years, so perhaps you can forgive the Finn Harps supporters for being a tad bit more excited than usual going into tonight’s derby clash in Ballybofey.

Incredibly, Harps have only beaten Derry three times ever in the league since City joined the League of Ireland in 1985.

Their first ever win came in February 1998 when a sole Donal O’Brien strike did the trick. Last year, they beat Derry 2-1 at Finn Park on the opening day of the Premier Division campaign while in April of this year goals from BJ Banda and Michael Funston earned the Donegal club their first away league win over their great rivals - and that was at Maginn Park and not the Brandywell!

Upbeat Finn Harps will, therefore, be hoping to create a little bit of history if they can record back-to-back wins over Derry City for the first time ever tonight.

However, Derry certainly won’t be in the mood to let their neighbours get one up on them again.

And while Harps go into the game with a spring in their step and seeking a third win on the trot - after successes over Drogheda United and Bohemians – captain Ciaran Coll knows only too well that it could all fall flat.

Now in his ninth season with Harps, he has endured plenty of disappointments against Derry over the years.

And he points to last season as a reminder of just what can happen. Having beaten Derry in the season opener and then drawn at the Brandywell the Finn Park faithful had high hopes when the sides met for the third and final time last season, in August. Derry came good and won 5-0.

“That still hurts,” Coll told the Derry News, adding that he reckons it will be “very tough” for Harps to get all three points but should they do so it would be a massive boost.

It would be a result in bonus territory and it would actually lift Harps above Bohemians and into seventh in the table.

Interestingly, Harps have two games in hand on all four sides below them with three set to be relegated come the end of the season.

However, those games in hand are against Derry tonight, and leaders Cork City, in a re-arranged game on Monday, August 21st.

Expectations

So Harps boss Ollie Horgan, in typical fashion, is quick to play down any inflamed expectations and points out that City are third in the table and will have a far stronger side for the Finn Park clash than when the sides met in Buncrana.

“It is going to be a tough ask for us,” he said, pointing out that it is a big week for Harps as they then face Bray (away) on Friday.

He has a number of players nursing injuries and fears that some of those who may feature against Derry may consequently be ruled out of the clash with a Wicklow side who could well be wobbling due to the uncertainty over their players’ future as a result of their financial difficulties.

Harps are expecting their biggest crowd of the season and Horgan has issued a plea to the Donegal public to come out and get behind them.

“We’re going pretty well, if this isn’t the sort of game to come out to then I don’t know what is,” he declared.

He recalled the great away support at recent games in Drogheda and Sligo and would dearly love Finn Park to be a cauldron of noise for the Derry game.

Meanwhile, Harps midfielder Jonny Bonner believes the fortress-like atmosphere at Finn Park can help his side edge out Derry tonight.

Harps beat Derry 2-0 at Maginn Park in the first of their derby fixtures back in April, and the 26-year-old is hoping they can record another famous win on their home territory.

"Finn Park is a tough place for most teams to get a result,” he said. “We have a great crowd supporting us and it's always that wee bit more special when Derry come."

Now back to full fitness after injury, Bonner is hoping to make his mark against a Derry side he admits can pose all sorts of problems.

He said: "They are a really good footballing team. When I was injured I went in to Maginn and watched them. With Gerard Doherty playing out from the back, they create plenty of chances for themselves, and they have a bunch of tough midfielders who work hard in there."

And Bonner believes taking three points from the Candy Stripes would give the team a massive boost heading into the season's home stretch.

"We did well to come back from a goal down to beat Bohs last week," he said, "and it's good we're sitting above the relegation zone. But there's still a lot of games left and a couple of losses and you're back down there. A win over Derry would give us great confidence and give us a good push on."

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