League Preview: Finn Harps -v- Dundalk FC

Finn Harps face a daunting task on Friday night when they welcome title-chasing Dundalk to Ballybofey in the SSE Airtricity League.

FINN HARPS

Ollie Horgan’s side, fresh from their EA Sports Cup win over Cockhill Celtic, are severely depleted for this encounter but will nonetheless be hopeful of gaining a positive result, even if the odds are firmly stacked against them.

“We have massive respect for Dundalk and what they have achieved in the last few years”, said Horgan.

“Stephen Kenny will be settling for nothing less than a win at Finn Park with the hope that they can close the gap on Cork City. We will have to produce some performance to get a result against them.”

Harps are without top scorer Ciaran O’Connor, who is ineligible to play against his parent club while Damien McNulty and Danny Morrissey, who both have hamstring problems, are unlikely to feature.

“We’re not helped by the hamstring injuries to Ciaran O’Connor, Danny Morrissey and Damien McNulty. At this stage I can’t see any of them featuring in this game”, continued Horgan.

“Gareth Harkin is also in bother with a groin problem and while Barry Molloy played a part of the game against Cockhill, he is still struggling with a calf strain so it’s likely to be an opportunity for other lads to come in and show what they can do against a top side like Dundalk.

“That’s what the squad is there for and we have prepared as best we can this week after the cup game that we played against Cockhill on Monday night.”

DUNDALK

The Lilywhites are boosted by the return of Patrick McEleney, who missed last week’s Louth derby victory over Drogheda United through injury.

Ciaran Kilduff also returns to the matchday squad after serving his one-match suspension in that match but Paddy Barrett and Thomas Stewart will both have to undergo late fitness tests.

Dundalk were dealt a huge blow when Sean Gannon was stretchered off after sustaining medial ligament damage against Drogheda. He is expected to spend the next two months on the sidelines alongside Robbie Benson, who suffered a hamstring injury the previous week.

Stephen O’Donnell, another long-term absentee, has returned to training following a thigh injury he received on the opening night of the season and could take his place on the substitutes bench come Friday.

“We had a good win last week ourselves. It was a derby match and it is important to win the game last week. It was important to bounce back after the defeat the week before to Cork and we did that”, Stephen Kenny told the club’s official website.

“Finn Harps have had some good results recently and have had a good start to the season. We have to respect that and we do.

“We are going to have to roll our sleeves up tomorrow night and earn the right to win. We are going to have to put in a high level of performance and show a real determination to go and get the victory in Ballybofey."

Referee: Paul Tuite

MATCH FACTS

Friday night’s match will be 78th competitive meeting between the two clubs – the first was a 3-3 draw in the now defunct League of Ireland Shield back in 1969.

Of those encounters, Finn Harps currently have the slight advantage, recording 29 wins to Dundalk’s 28.

Harps however, haven’t beaten or indeed scored a goal against Dundalk since 2007, albeit the sides have met just three times in that period.

BETTING

Finn Harps 7/1; Draw 16/5; Dundalk 4/9

PREDICTION

Finn Harps 0-1 Dundalk

Finn Harps

Unavailable: Ciaran O’Connor.

Doubtful: Gareth Harkin, Damien McNulty, Barry Molloy, Danny Morrissey.

Suspended: None.

Dundalk

Unavailable: Robbie Benson (hamstring), Sean Gannon (medial ligament), Shane Grimes (hamstring).

Doubtful: Paddy Barrett, Thomas Stewart.

Suspended: None.