League Preview: Dundalk -v- Finn Harps

Dundalk will begin preparations for the Champions League qualifiers on Friday night when they welcome relegation-threatened Finn Harps to Oriel Park (kick-off 8pm).

DUNDALK

The Lilywhites were handed a tough assignment against Norwegian double winners Rosenborg in the draw which took place at Uefa headquarters on Monday morning.

Stephen Kenny and his squad now switch their immediate focus to their upcoming SSE Airtricity League matches against Finn Harps before welcoming Galway United to Oriel Park just three days later.

The Dundalk manager feels his side have hit top form coming into the visit of Harps following last week’s 6-0 demolition of Drogheda United in the Louth derby at United Park.

“That’s five clean sheets out of six that we have kept now”, said Kenny.

“The players are in good form and scoring goals. They are playing well at the minute and we came back after the break with a good win last week against Drogheda United.

“We have a great respect for Finn Harps certainly, they are a good team and we expect a tough game but we want to continue in the vein of form that we are in and that is our ambition going into this weekend.”

Dundalk have a full squad of players to pick from coming into this game with the exception of Steven Kinsella, who is the only definite absentee due to a back injury.

FINN HARPS

Finn Harps are now just one point above the relegation zone coming into their trip to the defending champions after last week’s 1-0 defeat at the hands of Shamrock Rovers in Ballybofey.

Ollie Horgan is boosted by the return of Ethan Boyle, Caolan McAleer, Damian McNulty and Danny Morrissey who all missed that defeat to Rovers through suspension.

Harps are without top scorer Ciaran O’Connor, who is unavailable to face his parent club while there are doubts over the fitness of Packie Mailey, Paddy McCourt and Barry Molloy.

“They have hit top form again after that big win over Drogheda. There is never a good time to play Dundalk and that’s especially true now”, said Horgan.

“We haven’t scored against them since coming back into the Premier Division and they gave us a real hiding in Ballybofey last season. We will be under savage pressure against the quality that they have.”

Referee: Ben Connolly

MATCH FACTS

Friday night’s match marks the 79th competitive meeting between the two clubs. The first of those was a 3-3 draw in the now defunct League of Ireland Shield back in 1969.

Nothing can separate the sides according to record coming into this match, with Dundalk and Finn Harps each winning 29 of those encounters while there have been 20 draws.

Since their return to the Premier Division, Harps have lost all five of their matches against Dundalk without scoring a goal. The most recent was a 2-0 defeat at Finn Park back in April.

BETTING

Dundalk 1/6; Draw 6/1; Finn Harps 16/1

PREDICTION

Dundalk 3-0 Finn Harps

Dundalk

Injured: Steven Kinsella.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.

Finn Harps

Unavailable: Ciaran O’Connor.

Doubtful: Packie Mailey, Paddy McCourt, Barry Molloy.

Suspended: None.