FAI Cup Preview: Dundalk -v- Finn Harps

A place in the last eight of this season’s Irish Daily Mail FAI Cup is the prize on offer when Dundalk host First Division outfit Finn Harps at Oriel Park on Friday night (kick-off 7.45pm).

DUNDALK

The Lilywhites moved three points clear at the top of the Premier Division table on Monday night following a routine 2-0 win at Sligo Rovers thanks to goals in either half from Patrick Hoban and Michael Duffy.

In addition to a sublime tenth league goal of the season, Duffy was also credited with his 20th assist which put the seal on what has so far been an outstanding season for the former Derry City winger.

“We broke the deadlock in the first half and then we defended really well and held on,” said Duffy in the aftermath of that win over Sligo. “I’m obviously delighted to get the goal too

“I knew it was going to be tough and I was just waiting on the space to open up to try and bend the shot. I’ve tried that a few times this year and it hasn’t come off for me so I’m delighted that it went in. 

“It was a tough game but we knew it was always going to be because Sligo is never an easy place to go to. The second half was tough but we defended really well and Gary (Rogers) pulled off a couple of good saves.

“We knew it wasn’t going to be easy in the second half but we felt that we would always get another chance to score and Pat (Hoban) did with a great header in to the corner.”

That win over Sligo was Dundalk’s 13th league victory in a row and they are now just two behind the all-time record for consecutive wins that was set by Bohemians way back in 1923/24.

More crucially though, the Lilywhites opened up a three-point gap between themselves and second-placed Cork City with just eight games left to play – one less than Cork, who have played a game extra.



“It feels good to be at the top of the table. It’s not going to be an easy run in, every game is going to be massive now but as long as we stay on top it’s in our hands,” Duffy continued.

“We’ve been brilliant in the league for the last couple of months and we just need to keep that going until the end of the season then we’ll win the league.”

Attention switches back to the FAI Cup for Stephen Kenny’s side, who knocked out Cobh Ramblers in the first round ahead of this second-round tie against another First Division side in Finn Harps.

 “We respect Finn Harps,” said Stephen Kenny. “They are a good side and are doing very well in the First Division and are playing well..

“There is a real determination in the group. We want to progress in the cup and we want to win as many matches as we can. We are very focused and we want to do well. We are ready for a big match at Oriel Park.”

Dundalk have no fresh injury worries coming into this tie with Stephen O’Donnell being the only definite absentee, while Karolis Chvedukas is a doubt. Kenny, however, is likely to reshuffle his squad with next Tuesday night’s rescheduled league fixture with Shamrock Rovers firmly on his mind.



 

FINN HARPS

Despite having already eliminated Premier Division opposition in the form of Bray Wanderers in the first round, Finn Harps’ main ambition for this year is to make an immediate return to the top-flight.

A comfortable 3-1 away win over struggling Athlone Town last Friday night, in which Nathan Boyle scored a brace in addition to Keith Cowan’s late goal, has all but secured their place in the play-offs.

Ollie Horgan is wary that a “hiding” against Dundalk could knock the confidence out of his Finn Harps players as they sit six points ahead of fifth-placed Longford Town with just three league matches left.

“We all know the quality that is in the Dundalk squad,” Horgan told the club’s official website. “Their subs bench and even some of the lads that don’t make the matchday squad are all players who would likely start in most other Premier Division sides.

“Stephen Kenny deserves a lot credit for what he has done there and that is demonstrated by them being top of the table again. We have to respect that and try put a game plan in place that will hopefully stifle their attacking potential and see where that gets us. 

“Patrick Hoban is firing in the goals all season and Michael Duffy has been in super form attacking from wide areas. Our lads are under no illusions about the task ahead. Hopefully it’s a game that will stand us in good stead for the three league games that we have left. 

“The worse thing that can happen tomorrow night is that we get a hiding and that could have a really negative impact on morale.”

The challenge awaiting Finn Harps has not been made any easier by the unavailability of defender Sam Todd, who misses out through suspension. Adam Duffy will also sit this one out due to injury while there are currently doubts over the fitness of experienced duo Ciaran Coll and Paddy McCourt. 

Referee:Paul McLaughlin.

 

MATCH FACTS

Dundalk haven’t been knocked out at this stage of the FAI Cup (last sixteen) since Bohemians eliminated them out after a penalty shootout in a replay at Dalymount Park in August 2009. 

In fact, the Lilywhites have reached the quarter-final stage of the FAI Cup in each of the last seven years. They went on to reach the semi-finals of the competition in five of those seven years.

These sides haven’t met in the FAI Cup since 2002 when after a 1-1 draw at Oriel Park, two James Keddy goals saw them win the replay 2-0 and against all the odds, went on to lift the cup that year.

BETTING

Dundalk 1/14; Draw 6/1; Finn Harps 20/1

PREDICTION

Dundalk 4-0 Finn Harps

 

Dundalk

Injured:Stephen O’Donnell.

Doubtful:Karolis Chvedukas.

Suspended:None.

Finn Harps

Injured:Adam Duffy.

Doubtful:Ciaran Coll, Mark Coyle, Paddy McCourt. 

Suspended:Sam Todd.

 

 

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