Finn Harps’ Michael Funston.
FINN Harps midfielder Michael Funston has known play-off glory before, and he is optimistic ahead of Friday night’s first leg against UCD in Belfield.
Funston was a member of Paul Hegarty’s side that won promotion via the play-offs in 2007.
Harps got the better of Dundalk and then Waterford to win promotion that year, with Funston scoring in the second leg at the RSC when the Ballybofey club drew 3-3 to ensure their return to the top flight.
Funston remembers those days fondly and he would love for the current crop of Harps players to experience a triumph in the play-offs, but he admits that there is still a lot of football to be played this season.
“We probably would have taken it (play-off) at the start of the season,” said Funston.
“I suppose over the last couple of weeks we have been disappointed that we didn’t get top spot, but it wasn’t to be.
“For me, who has played in a play-off before, it’s actually a smashing way to go up. But there’s a lot of work to be done between now and then.
“Friday is only a fourth part of the jigsaw. There’s a long way to go in this and hopefully we’ll have four games, which is a mini league in itself.
“It will be like a Champions League group, and it could go any way. But we’re prepared for that.”
PICK UP FRIDAY’S EDITION OF THE DONEGAL NEWS TO SEE MICHAEL FUNSTON’S FULL INTERVIEW AHEAD OF THE PLAY-OFF CLASH WITH UCD
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