League Preview: Drogheda United -v- Finn Harps

DROGHEDA UNITED

A new look Drogheda United, with Tim Clancy as manager, Kevin Doherty as assistant, Dave Robertson as director of football and nine new signings head into their first game against Harps, who were also relegated from the Premier Division last season, after completing a positive pre-season.

The Louth side beat Bohemians and Derry, drew with Bray and lost to Dundalk in pre-season before beating Bangor Celtic on penalties in the Leinster Senior Cup.

Clancy is hoping to bring those performances from pre-season into the beginning of the league campaign, and he does so with a fully fit squad to choose from.

"We’ve had a really good pre-season and it’s a real bonus to be going into tomorrow night with a clean bill of health. The players have gelled very well and the fitness levels look excellent.

"We’ve played four Premier Division sides and had some good results to go along with positive performances so hopefully we take that into Friday," Clancy told the club’s official website.

Clancy has watched Harps in pre-season and knows his side will have a difficult task if they are to kick the season off with a win for the fifth season running.

"We know what Finn Harps are going to be all about. Ollie Horgan gets his teams well organised, difficult to beat and always carry a threat going forward."

"I went to see them play Sligo Rovers in a friendly a couple of weeks ago and they more than held their own. They’ve made a number of good signings and we know we’ll be in for a tough game," Clancy said.

The First Division has been labelled the most competitive for years and Clancy has said he wants every side that comes to United Park this season know that they are in for a game.

“I think Ollie Horgan said during the week that it’s an impossible division to call. You’ve as much a chance of finishing top as you do bottom and I couldn’t agree more.

“It looks the most competitive First Division in years. United Park isn’t an easy place to go to, I don’t think opposition players enjoy playing here and we need to take full advantage of that.

“We want to make it as uncomfortable as possible for them and make sure that any side coming to United Park knows that there in for a game.”

FINN HARPS

Ollie Horgan takes his Finn Harps side to Drogheda on Friday night as they look to get their First Division campaign off to a winning start.

During the off-season, Horgan has managed to re-sign Paddy McCourt while adding the likes of John O'Flynn and brothers Ciaran and Michael O'Connor to his squad.

The Harps manager is hopeful his side will gel quickly and be competitive this season.

"Hopefully the lads we have brought in gel quickly with the players that have stayed with us."

"We want to be competitive because there are a lot of really good sides in this First Division with a lot of players there who have experience of Premier Division football," Horgan told the club’s official website.

Looking ahead to their game against Drogheda, Horgan, who has been at a number of Drogheda's pre-season games, believes the Boynesiders will be challenging for promotion.

"Tim Clancy has come in as the new manager there and Drogheda had an excellent pre-season," Horgan said.

"Despite being relegated Tim has managed to keep more of the players than us. The likes of Sean Brennan and Jake Hyland have been retained and others.

"They have brought in quality players like Chris Lyons and Lee Duffy. Drogheda will be right up there challenging for promotion.

"It’s just good now to be getting back into competition again. We’ll be heading to Drogheda trying to get a result.”

In team news, Harps captain Ciaran Coll looks set to miss out with an ankle injury while midfielder Gareth Harkin is doubtful with a knee injury.

Referee: John McLoughlin

MATCH STATS

Drogheda and Harps played each other three times in the league last season.

There were nine goals scored in those three games between these sides.

Drogheda won the two games in Finn Park, beating Harps 2-0 and 3-2 while Harps beat Drogheda 2-0 at United Park.

BETTING

Drogheda United 13/10; Draw 23/10; Finn Harps 13/8.

PREDICTION

Drogheda United 1-1 Finn Harps

Drogheda United

Injured: None.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.

Finn Harps

Injured: Ciaran Coll.

Doubtful: Gareth Harkin.

Suspended: None.