ONLY NINE PLAYERS have ever played 300 times for Finn Harps.
Michael Funston is on the verge of turning the number of members into that particular club into double figures over the coming days.
With Harps due to play Galway United tomorrow night at Eamonn Deacy Park in the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division before welcoming St Patrick’s Athletic on Monday in Ballybofey, the former Bonagee United midfielder should soon hit the milstestone.
Funston, who is now 30, joined Harps in 2003 when Noel King was in charge and, was luck would have it, the Dubliner resigned just five days later.
However, Funston fought on and barring a short spell at Dungannon Swifts, has been a bloodline at Finn Park through plenty of ups and downs over the last 13 seasons.
“I always take it season at a time,” Funston said. “I’m enjoying it and really enjoying working with Ollie Horgan. I’ll assess it in June, which I always do. I like to be honest and try and be as honest as I can on what impact I am making.
“We’ve been competing and haven’t been overawed by teams. That’s a good thing. We’ve seven points now and with the pitch firming up, the pace is going to be faster. The Premier Division teams have a faster tempo.”
The 300-club includes famous names like Jonathan Minnock, Paddy McGrenaghan, Jim Sheridan, Kevin McHugh, Con McLaughlin, Declan Boyle, Declan McDowell, John Gerard McGettigan and Brendan Bradley. For Funston, points rather than plaudits are more important at this stage of the campaign.
“Playing 300, whether it’s Friday, it’ll be nice,” he said. “But you only think about these things when you hang up your boots.”
Harps’ last victory over Galway outside of that came 12 years ago when they won 5-1 at Terryland Park on their way to winning the First Division title – Chris Breen, Shane Bradley, Funston and a double from Kevin McHugh being the Harps scorers that night. Putting an end to that run might be more of a priority for Funston and his side for now.
Funston spoke to Charlie Collins this afternoon …
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