Finn Harps -v- Salthill Devon

FINN HARPS

Although last week’s 1-0 defeat against Athlone Town was Harps’ first in the league campaign this season it means that they haven’t won in their last three outings and Peter Hutton will target three points at home against the division’s bottom club to keep in touch with the early pace setters, Longford Town.

Hutton felt that the negativity surrounding the club after the previous week’s goalless draw with Wexford Youths affected his players and contributed to the disjointed performance in the defeat to Athlone.

Speaking to the club website the manager commented, “Yes it was certainly disappointing to lose the game, as we didn’t play well at all, we appeared very tentative and nervous and I think that the aftermath of the Wexford game seemed to have had an effect. In the lead up to the Athlone game some players had commented on the negativity surrounding the previous game and how it was crazy to think we’d remained unbeaten, kept a clean sheet and yet there was still so much pessimism, especially so early in the season.

“I won’t for one instance use that as an excuse for losing the game but that type of mentality going into the game didn’t help and it appeared that some players lacked that belief and confidence from earlier in the season. We have a young squad who will naturally thrive on confidence but on Friday night we looked cagey and hesitant and we struggled to get a foothold in the game. “

Harps will go into the game still minus the injured trio of Ciaran Coll, Sean McCarron and Thomas McMonagle while Paul McVeigh and Michael Doherty will have their fitness assessed before the match as both are carrying knocks.

SALTHILL DEVON

Once again Salthill were left cursing their luck last week after an injury time winner denied them a victory over Waterford United that would have lifted them off the foot of the table and, perhaps, given a truer reflection of their performances in the league this year.

It was not to be, however, and Tony Mannion’s side need to start converting some of the chances they are creating to avoid getting detached at the bottom before the season reaches the halfway stage.

Coach John Brennan told the club’s website that the team had responded well in training after the heartbreak of the defeat to Waterford but there was some injury concerns to be considered before the trip to take on Finn Harps.

“There are some injury doubts about Robbie Gaul with an ankle problem, but he should be ok, Graham Kelly is still out with a hamstring problem. Enda Curran has been struggling with a niggling strain and did not start last week and he will again have a test before the game"

Several members of the Salthill Devon squad are facing into examination time and this may impact the squad in the coming couple of weeks also.

Referee: Alan Sherlock

MATCH STATS

This will be Salthill Devon’s sixth appearance in Finn Park and they have only scored in one of those games when Daryl Horgan and Mikey Gilmore were on target in a 3-2 defeat for the Galway side.

Salthill Devon recorded their only league victory over Harps last October as goals from Brian Gaffney and Enda Curran gave them a 2-0 victory.

Harps goalkeeper Ciaran Gallagher will become the 57^th player to play 100 games for the club if, as expected, he takes his place between the posts on Friday night.

BETTING

Finn Harps: 2/5, Draw: 3/1, Salthill Devon: 13/2.

PREDICTION

Finn Harps 2–1 Salthill Devon.

Finn Harps

Injured: Ciaran Coll, Sean McCarron, Thomas McMonagle
Doubtful: Paul McVeigh, Michael Doherty.
Suspended: None

Salthill Devon

Injured: Graham Kelly.
Doubtful: Robbie Gaul, Enda Curran.
Suspended: None.