We earned our luck – Hutton
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Peter Hutton believes the bit of luck that his side had near the end of Saturday night’s meeting with Waterford was well-earned after a hard-working display against the south-easterner’s in Ballybofey.
The Harps manager was delighted for his players to pick up just a second win of the season but acknowledged that the last ten minutes was ‘nerve-wrecking’, as Harps escaped a late onslaught from the visitors.
Kevin McHugh’s first half strike was the difference in a game that yielded very few clear-cut chances and Hutton was relieved that his players managed to dodge a few bullets near the end.
“We’re delighted with the win, particularly in the first half,” he said. “I thought we were more than deserving to take a half-time lead. In the second half we didn’t really keep the same tempo as the first half and we sort of invited them on to us a bit. The last two minutes was too nervy.
“It’s human nature to try and take what’s on the board and there was times when we did sit back. Not just the back four but defensively all over the park we fell back, almost trying to consolidate what we have.
“We invited them on and it’s something that we’ll need to work on, ball retention and things like that. I’m delighted for the players. I spoke to them after and we mentioned the wee bit of luck but I just said that if we continue to work hard that bit of luck will turn in our favour.”
Waterford, like Harps, have seen a change in management since the start of the season and although the R.S.C outfit weren’t exactly firing on all cylinders on Saturday night, the Harps boss feels a win of any kind against one of the pre-season favourites will be good for confidence levels.
He commented: “At the start of the season they were one of the title favourites and they have a squad full of seasoned campaigners, they’re a highly regarded squad. They are very difficult to manage from set-pieces as we seen near the end with some of their big physical players.
“I thought we coped quite well with them, though the last five minutes was nerve-wrecking but we got there in the end and I think it’s down to the hard work of the players.”
The former Derry stalwart recognised the impact teen striker Blaine Curtis made in what was his first Airtricity League start for Harps.
He said: “He done very well, he was very sharp. He’s been doing very good in the ‘A’ games as well and acquitted himself very, very well. He maybe tired near the end because he hasn’t had ninety minutes at that level before. We’re delighted with his performance tonight and he can be very proud of himself.”
The Harps manager was delighted for his players to pick up just a second win of the season but acknowledged that the last ten minutes was ‘nerve-wrecking’, as Harps escaped a late onslaught from the visitors.
Kevin McHugh’s first half strike was the difference in a game that yielded very few clear-cut chances and Hutton was relieved that his players managed to dodge a few bullets near the end.
“We’re delighted with the win, particularly in the first half,” he said. “I thought we were more than deserving to take a half-time lead. In the second half we didn’t really keep the same tempo as the first half and we sort of invited them on to us a bit. The last two minutes was too nervy.
“It’s human nature to try and take what’s on the board and there was times when we did sit back. Not just the back four but defensively all over the park we fell back, almost trying to consolidate what we have.
“We invited them on and it’s something that we’ll need to work on, ball retention and things like that. I’m delighted for the players. I spoke to them after and we mentioned the wee bit of luck but I just said that if we continue to work hard that bit of luck will turn in our favour.”
Waterford, like Harps, have seen a change in management since the start of the season and although the R.S.C outfit weren’t exactly firing on all cylinders on Saturday night, the Harps boss feels a win of any kind against one of the pre-season favourites will be good for confidence levels.
He commented: “At the start of the season they were one of the title favourites and they have a squad full of seasoned campaigners, they’re a highly regarded squad. They are very difficult to manage from set-pieces as we seen near the end with some of their big physical players.
“I thought we coped quite well with them, though the last five minutes was nerve-wrecking but we got there in the end and I think it’s down to the hard work of the players.”
The former Derry stalwart recognised the impact teen striker Blaine Curtis made in what was his first Airtricity League start for Harps.
He said: “He done very well, he was very sharp. He’s been doing very good in the ‘A’ games as well and acquitted himself very, very well. He maybe tired near the end because he hasn’t had ninety minutes at that level before. We’re delighted with his performance tonight and he can be very proud of himself.”
