League Preview: Dundalk - v - Finn Harps

DUNDALK FC

Champions Dundalk kicked off their title defence last weekend with a deserved 3-1 triumph in Bray. A brace from Ciaran Kilduff and a strike from Ronan Finn saw the champions depart the Carlisle Grounds with all three points.

The Lilywhites will look to build on their impressive early season form which has seen them lose only once in both competitive and friendly matches when Finn Harps visit Oriel Park on Friday night.

Dundalk are rightly favourites to retain the championship, having kept the likes of Sean Gannon and Daryl Horgan at the club, while also adding Patrick McEleney and Robbie Benson to their squad.

McEleney caught the eye during pre-season with impressive performances, particularly in their Leinster Senior Cup tie against Shelbourne. His partnership with the mercurial and ever reliant Ronan Finn will cause many teams problems in the year ahead, and Harps should be wary of the duo in Friday’s match.

Speaking ahead of the game, Dundalk manager Stephen Kenny described their performance in Bray last weekend as “brilliant”.

Kenny added he consider it “one of our best performances in recent seasons in what was difficult conditions. It was a very convincing win on the night and we have to take it into this weekend.

“Finn Harps had a very good win themselves against Derry City and they are on a high but we are at home. We want to start off the season at home with a win. We are motivated and want to start (at home) with a strong performance.”

Dundalk have kept the backbone of the double winning squad of the past two seasons, and with arguably the best and most settled back four and most consistent midfield in the country, adding to that the prolific early season form of striker Ciaran Kilduff, they should have too much quality for the Donegal men.

FINN HARPS

Ollie Horgan’s Finn Harps gained their first league victory back in the Premier Division and their first win over rivals Derry City in 18 years in last Friday night’s North-West derby at Finn Park.

Goals from Dave Scully and Ryan Curran saw them defeat their near neighbours 2-1, with Rory Patterson registering for the Candystripes to make it a nervy ending for the large home faithful.

Harps’ boss Horgan has continually played down his sides abilities during many of his pre-season interviews (including on the Extratime.ie Sportcast) and said that his squad features “no outstanding player.” However, what they have in abundance is fight and desire. These qualities were evident during their 2015 promotion winning campaign and in the Derry match, and they’ll need those qualities and more if they are to take anything from Oriel Park.

Being early season favourites for the drop, Harps know that it will be their home form and points against those that are around them that will keep them in the top flight. Thus, anything other than a Dundalk victory on Friday night would be a major surprise.

“Dundalk are a serious side and no-one gives us much of a chance going there on Friday,” said Horgan as he looked ahead to his side’s first away game of the campaign.

“We will struggle along the way this season,” he said, “especially away from home, and Dundalk away is at the top of that list. We could play well on Friday and still come out on the end of a heavy defeat. However, we’ll go there to give it a go and see where that takes us.”

Referee: Ray Matthews

MATCH STATS

Friday night’s match will be the 75^th meeting of the two sides in all competitions, and it will also be their 40^th meeting in Oriel Park. Harps have won 29 of the team’s previous encounters, Dundalk have won 25, with 20 of their games ending in a draw. This will be the first meeting of the pair in the Premier Division for 17 years.

Dundalk have won only three of the last ten competitive meetings between the sides. Their last win over the men from the North-West came in March 2007, when they won 3-2.

The last meeting of the teams was in the 2007 Promotion/Relegation play-off semi-final in Ballybofey. Finn Harps won that game thanks to goals from Marc Brolly and Stephen Parkhouse, condemning Dundalk to another year in the second tier.

BETTING

Dundalk FC 2/11; Draw 5/1; Finn Harps 14/1

PREDICTION

Dundalk FC 4-0 Finn Harps

Dundalk FC

Injured: None

Doubtful: None

Suspended: None

Finn Harps

Injured: Barry Molloy, Sean Houston, Josh Mailey, Michael Rafter, Packie Mailey.

Doubtful: None

Suspended: None