League Preview: Finn Harps -v- Derry City

FINN HARPS

Newly promoted Finn Harps welcome Derry City to Finn Park on Friday night (kick-off 7.45pm) in a mouth-watering Ulster derby.

The Harps have been in the wilderness from the Premier Division since 2008 and last season’s heroics during their relegation/promotion playoff victory over Limerick FC are all but forgotten by manager Ollie Horgan, as he told www.finnharps.com, “Yes, it was great and what we achieved was a tremendous feat, but last year is well and truly over now and everyone needs to concentrate on the huge task ahead.”

Horgan believes that Friday night’s game will be the first of many tough encounters for the Ballybofey side this season, stating, “We will do well to get anything out of the game on Friday. We will need to be at our best and hope that Derry don’t reach their potential if we are able to start the season with a positive result.”

The Harps have retained most of the same squad from last season’s campaign and have strengthened by adding goalkeeper Richard Brush and Liam Flatley from Sligo Rovers, Ethan Boyle from Waterford United, ex-Derry man Michael Rafter, Sean Houston returns for his second stint at the club and the experienced Dave Scully joins with previous Premier Division experience with Bray Wanderers and Bohemians.

Harps will be aiming for a positive start to the campaign and their home form will be critical to their chances of survival this season.

DERRY CITY

Derry City will make the visit to Ballybofey for Friday night’s spicy encounter hoping to make a big improvement on the disappointment of last season, when they finished well off the pace in 7^th place.

The Candystripes have had a relatively low key build up to the season but have strengthened in a number of positions. Many of the new additions will be unfamiliar to fans of the SSE Airtricity League as they have come from outside the island of Ireland and the most notable are Gareth McGlynn who returns after a spell at Stirling Lions and Rory Patterson who was plying his trade at FC United of Manchester.

The exits of Patrick McEleney, Stephen Dooley, and Mark Quigley have left City somewhat lightweight in terms of attacking options. Boss, Kenny Shiels, is not taking Finn Harps lightly telling www.derrycityfc.net, “It’s a local derby, it will bring with it lots of intensity and a derby brings a frenetic game – players deal with the ball like a hot potato. There will be a bit of a battle, it is not about desire though it is about quality. Every player should have desire and commitment.”

Derry will be looking for all three points to kick start their season and build towards being in the shake up for the spoils at the end of the season.

Referee: Tomas Connolly.

MATCH FACTS

Finn Harps enjoyed a decent preseason with two wins from three matches – a 1-0 win over Drogheda United and a 4-2 defeat of Athlone Town along with a 4-2 loss at the hands of UCD.

Derry City were inconsistent in their preseason friendlies with a 0-0 draw with Coleraine FC, a 1-0 defeat to Sligo Rovers and a 1-0 win away to Glentoran.

Harps have an appalling recent record with Derry with no wins in their last 10 meetings stretching back as far as 2008 while the Candystripes have enjoyed seven wins and three draws against the Donegal side in the period.

BETTING

Finn Harps 2/1; Draw 11/5; Derry City 13/10.

PREDICTION

Finn Harps 1-1 Derry City.

Finn Harps 

Injured: Josh Mailey.

Doubtful: Packie Malley, Damien McNulty, Ciaran Coll.

Suspended: None.

Derry City

Injured: Gareth McFadden.

Doubtful: Conor McCormack.

Suspended: None.