Sporting Fingal FC -v- Finn Harps FC
Credit:
Sporting Fingal will be going in search of a third win on the spin when they welcome sixth-placed Finn Harps to the Morton Stadium on Friday night (kick-off 7.45pm). The title favourites have finally moved into gear after a slow start and built on their first victory of the season over Wexford Youths with an 8-0 annihilation of Kildare County last weekend.
Fingal favourites
Those back-to-back wins have put Fingal firmly back on the promotion trail as they now lie third, five points behind joint leaders UCD and Shelbourne. Harps, however, have found life in the First Division difficult so far after their return to the Discovery Ireland route following their relegation from the top flight last season. Paul Hegarty’s side suffered their first defeat of this campaign last weekend at the hands of UCD and the manager is under no illusions about the size of the task facing his side. “It's going to be a big test for us," he said. "They absolutely hammered Kildare. You'd expect them to win the league. When you look through their team, every one of them are Premier Division players.”
Gathering pace
Fingal manager Liam Buckley, meanwhile, thinks that his side have turned a corner after their sluggish start which saw them pick up just one point from meetings with promotion rivals Waterford United (1-1) and UCD (0-1). And now, the former Athlone Town, Saint Patrick's Athletic and Shamrock Rovers boss expects his team to build on their recent run. “We have come into a bit of form and it’s vital that we maintain that when Finn Harps visit on Friday,” he said. “Finn Harps will no doubt be strong. Any team with players in the calibre of Conor Gethins, Mark Mukendi and Ruairi Harkin are bound to be competitive and I’m expecting Paul Hegarty’s side to be up for this one.”
Roll call
Both sides have players missing through injury as Fingal will have to do without the injured trio of Gary O’Neill (groin), Shane McFaul (ankle) and Daniel Corcoran (hamstring). Recent signing Lorcan Fitzgerald is also ruled out with a hamstring strain. There may be some good news for Buckley, however, as Stephen Paisley is in contention for a first-team return. Hegarty also has some selection headaches ahead of the game. Ian Rossiter (thigh) remains a major doubt while Marc Brolly (torn ankle ligaments) and Ciaran Coll (leg injury) are definite absentees. Brian Lafferty and Cornelius Gallagher, who both started in Harps’ midweek EA Sports Cup win over Kildrum Tigers, are expected to be in the squad for the trip while Michael Funston is available for selection again.
extratime.ie prediction: Fingal should prove much too strong for an inexperienced Harps side. 2-0.
Fingal favourites
Those back-to-back wins have put Fingal firmly back on the promotion trail as they now lie third, five points behind joint leaders UCD and Shelbourne. Harps, however, have found life in the First Division difficult so far after their return to the Discovery Ireland route following their relegation from the top flight last season. Paul Hegarty’s side suffered their first defeat of this campaign last weekend at the hands of UCD and the manager is under no illusions about the size of the task facing his side. “It's going to be a big test for us," he said. "They absolutely hammered Kildare. You'd expect them to win the league. When you look through their team, every one of them are Premier Division players.”
Gathering pace
Fingal manager Liam Buckley, meanwhile, thinks that his side have turned a corner after their sluggish start which saw them pick up just one point from meetings with promotion rivals Waterford United (1-1) and UCD (0-1). And now, the former Athlone Town, Saint Patrick's Athletic and Shamrock Rovers boss expects his team to build on their recent run. “We have come into a bit of form and it’s vital that we maintain that when Finn Harps visit on Friday,” he said. “Finn Harps will no doubt be strong. Any team with players in the calibre of Conor Gethins, Mark Mukendi and Ruairi Harkin are bound to be competitive and I’m expecting Paul Hegarty’s side to be up for this one.”
Roll call
Both sides have players missing through injury as Fingal will have to do without the injured trio of Gary O’Neill (groin), Shane McFaul (ankle) and Daniel Corcoran (hamstring). Recent signing Lorcan Fitzgerald is also ruled out with a hamstring strain. There may be some good news for Buckley, however, as Stephen Paisley is in contention for a first-team return. Hegarty also has some selection headaches ahead of the game. Ian Rossiter (thigh) remains a major doubt while Marc Brolly (torn ankle ligaments) and Ciaran Coll (leg injury) are definite absentees. Brian Lafferty and Cornelius Gallagher, who both started in Harps’ midweek EA Sports Cup win over Kildrum Tigers, are expected to be in the squad for the trip while Michael Funston is available for selection again.
extratime.ie prediction: Fingal should prove much too strong for an inexperienced Harps side. 2-0.
