Finn Harps -v- Shelbourne
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Shelbourne travel to Ballybofey to face Finn Harps tonight (kick-off 7.30pm), in an intriguing battle between two contrasting First Division sides. The two teams met late last month, with the Dubliners winning 2-1.
Shels are heavy favourites going into the game and the First Division table toppers will as always rely on top scorer Anto Flood to move five points clear at the top of the table. However, David McAllister will serve a one-match ban after picking up four yellow cards. He has scored four times in their last three outings and will surely be a miss, though Mark O’Brien and David McGill return from suspension for the game. Shels will also be without Alan Keely who has a hip injury, and Michael Synnott who is ruled out due to recent surgery on his wisdom teeth.
Harps have had a mixed time in the league, with 19 points from 20 games. They’ve been unable to hit the net in recent times and this worry’s James Gallagher. “We’re struggling to score goals at the minute. You always want to take something from your home games, but after the writing was on the wall against Athlone when we drew, we then lost to both Wexford and Limerick. It was a tough night last week with a good few knocks, but we’ll get on with it.”
Conor Gethins and Johnny Havlin remain sidelined, though Seamus Sharkey will return. Fintan Bonner and Mark Brolly will have late fitness tests having picked up knocks in last weeks game against Limerick. Harps have lost four of their last six, in comparison to Shels being unbeaten in competitive action since losing to Bohemians in the EA Sports Cup back in May.
Shels are heavy favourites going into the game and the First Division table toppers will as always rely on top scorer Anto Flood to move five points clear at the top of the table. However, David McAllister will serve a one-match ban after picking up four yellow cards. He has scored four times in their last three outings and will surely be a miss, though Mark O’Brien and David McGill return from suspension for the game. Shels will also be without Alan Keely who has a hip injury, and Michael Synnott who is ruled out due to recent surgery on his wisdom teeth.
Harps have had a mixed time in the league, with 19 points from 20 games. They’ve been unable to hit the net in recent times and this worry’s James Gallagher. “We’re struggling to score goals at the minute. You always want to take something from your home games, but after the writing was on the wall against Athlone when we drew, we then lost to both Wexford and Limerick. It was a tough night last week with a good few knocks, but we’ll get on with it.”
Conor Gethins and Johnny Havlin remain sidelined, though Seamus Sharkey will return. Fintan Bonner and Mark Brolly will have late fitness tests having picked up knocks in last weeks game against Limerick. Harps have lost four of their last six, in comparison to Shels being unbeaten in competitive action since losing to Bohemians in the EA Sports Cup back in May.
About Alan Smith
Alan Smith works as a sub-editor for the Guardian newspaper in London. Originally from Cork, he freelances for several other newspapers and websites. Follow him on twitter @alansmith90. View Full Profile