Play-off position is the main goal now for Tim Hiemer and Finn Harps

Finn Harps goalkeeper Tim Hiemer has admitted that while Finn Harps have gone through a small dip lately mainly due to their tough away schedule, he states that in that time, the club has never left the play-off spot, and they don’t plan to any time soon.  

The club welcomes Bray to Finn Park this Friday with Harps playing their first league game in Ballybofey since July 4 when they overcame Kerry 1-0. 

Since then, the club has travelled to Cork City twice for a league and cup match, before falling to Treaty United last week, with all three matches ending in 1-0 defeats. 

And while Hiemer admits that he and his team weren’t happy with the results despite the long journeys, he knows there is going to be a big push now from the squad going forward as they look to keep their play-off position and aim to get out of the First Division. 

“We weren’t happy with the last three games, but you have to take into consideration that we played Cork City who are by far the best team in our league and we gave them a good challenge twice down in Cork,” the Harps goalkeeper said. 

“We’ve had a little dip, and I'm not using it as an excuse, but we’ve done a lot of travelling the last three weeks, we’ve done Cork twice and then went to Treaty, which obviously doesn’t help. We weren’t happy with our performance, but I don’t think anybody is worried. 

“We know what we can do and we’re going to bounce back at home on Friday, and I think everybody is buzzing to be back home too.” 

With such a hectic away schedule the last few weeks, Hiemer speaks on behalf of the squad when he says that they are just chopping at the bit to be back playing in front of their own supporters. 

“I was talking before training and I was saying that we haven’t had a game here in ages, it’s felt like 10 weeks nearly, so everybody is looking forward to Friday and being back and we’re very confident going into the game,” Hiemer said. 

“It’s not like we feel the pressure, but we realise that there’s negative voices coming up and I think that Murph (Darren Murphy) and the staff are trying to keep that away from us, but then again, we’re all very confident, we’re all very close, and we know what we can do and we hope we have a lot of fans here on Friday night.” 

With 11 games left in the league, the question is being asked if promotion to the Premier Division is the goal. 

“That’s the goal absolutely! I wouldn’t have said that we’ve kept that a secret. We didn’t go into this season and say to ourselves that we’re going to go into the play-offs, because especially in this league, it’s a tough league and anyone can beat anyone. 

“Murph has said to us, that alongside Cork, we’re the only team never to leave the play-off position this year, so yeah, the play-off is the goal and I don’t think we need to keep that a secret anymore. 

“We have 11 games left and we want to be in the play-off and we deserve it as well.”