League Preview: Finn Harps -v- Cork City

Finn Harps welcome Cork City to Finn Park on Friday night for the opening game of 2017 Airtricity League Premier Division season (kick-off 8pm).

FINN HARPS

Finn Harps begin a second successive season in the Premier Division with one of the toughest tasks as they take on in-form Cork City.

Harps ensured safety in 2016 with a ninth-place finish. With three teams going down this season, the Ballybofey club will be aiming to avoid relegation once again. The club were boosted midweek by the addition of former Derry duo Paddy McCourt and Barry Molloy.

Molloy opted to return for the 2017 campaign after previously stating his intention to retire while McCourt will be a welcome attacking addition as that is an area in which Ollie Horgan’s men struggled during the previous season.

Along with McCourt, Horgan has also persuaded strikers Danny Morrissey and Ciaran O’Connor as well as defender Killian Cantwell to join the Donegal men. Horgan is aware of the task which faces his side on Friday evening. “We couldn’t have gotten a tougher start than Cork City who are a top side. John Caulfield has strengthened his squad significantly and they will be in with a shout to win the league this year. We lost three times to them last year so that shows you what we are up against.”

Sean Houston and Gareth Harkin are major doubts ahead of the game as they have rarely featured in pre-season.

CORK CITY

John Caulfield’s team are overwhelming favourites to come away from Finn Park with a victory. The Rebels are fancied to go one better than that of 2016 when they finished runners-up to Dundalk.

City have added defender Shane Griffn, winger Jimmy Keohane and striker Achille Campion ahead of the 2017 season. However, holding on to FAI Cup final hero Sean Maguire is the best piece of business completed by John Caulfield this off-season. The Cork boss has injury doubts over key players heading into this fixture with John Dunleavy, Alan Bennett and John Kavanagh all struggling to make it. In better news though, Steven Beattie is expected to recover in and be fit for kick off.

Caulfield was very complimentary of Finn Harps style and the achievements of manager Ollie Horgan when speaking to the club’s official website. “Ollie Horgan has done a phenomenal job at Finn Harps; he got them promoted against all the odds, they were everyone’s favourites to go down last year and they did really well.

“On our last trip to Finn Park, we scraped a late win up there and, typical of Ollie’s teams, they are very well-organised, physically strong, very passionate and Finn Park is a difficult venue. I hear they are expecting a big crowd, so we are under no illusions that it will be right battle up there.” 

He added, “The biggest problem Harps had last year was that they were able to keep clean sheets but they didn’t score enough goals and they have added some good attacking players to the squad this year. I think last year will stand to them and I think they will shock a lot of people this year.”

Referee: Robert Harvey

MATCH STATS

Cork City have a fantastic record against Harps, emerging victorious on 24 occasions from 39 meetings between the two clubs. Friday nights clash will be the 20^th time the sides have met at Finn Park.

Finn Harps record against the Rebels was poor in 2016 as they endured three defeats and only managed to score on one occasion.

In 2005, Cork travelled to Finn Park on the opening night and left with a 0-2 victory courtesy of goals from lethal duo John O’Flynn and Kevin Doyle.

BETTING

Finn Harps 8/1; Draw 16/5; Cork City 2/5.

PREDICTION 

Finn Harps 1-2 Cork City

Finn Harps:

Injured: None

Doubtful: Gareth Harkin, Sean Houston

Suspended: None

Cork City:

Injured: None

Doubtful: John Dunleavy, Alan Bennett, John Kavanagh, Steven Beattie

Suspended: None