Kildare County -v- Finn Harps
Credit:
Bottom of the table Kildare County welcome eighth place Finn Harps to Station Road on Friday night (kick-off 20:00) hoping to secure their first points of August. In their two previous league games this month, Kildare have gone down 2-0 against Shelbourne and Waterford United. Finn Harps have fared slightly better, taking a point from table toppers Shelbourne but going down 2-1 to Limerick.
This fixture is a repeat of the game that started the season for both these clubs, on that occasion the sides settled for a point a piece after David McDaid’s late goal gave Harps a share of the spoils in the opening day 1-1 draw between the sides at Station Road. In May, Kildare travelled to Ballybofey and were defeated by two goals to one, with Conor Gethins scoring both goals for the home side. Gethins hasn’t played for Harps since then, having dislocated his shoulder.
For Finn Harps, midfielder Shaun McGowan, who has been an ever present in league action this season, misses the trip to Kildare through suspension. Oisin McMenamin returns to the panel, having missed the 1-1 draw with Shelbourne last time out. Ian Rossiter, Marc Brolly, Fintan Bonner and Paddy Bonner join long term absentees Conor Gethins and Johnny Havlin in the treatment room.
Harps manager James Gallagher believes that Kildare are a side better than their lowly place in the league, especially since Joey Somerville strengthened the side recently with some experienced signing.
“Down there at the start of the season, we had enough chances to win the game and really should have taken the three points. On the other hand, it was a tricky enough game against Kildare in Ballybofey and we had to fight hard to get the win, and I'm sure it will be the exact same this Friday. Kildare are certainly a much-improved side and I think they are better than their position suggests. They've added a bit of experience and will be a test. They were unlucky to lose at Tolka Park against Shelbourne last week, when they conceded two late goals, and will be boosted to a degree by that.”
The game kicks off on Friday night at 20:00.
Extratime Prediction: Going to go out on a limb here and going to say that Kildare will earn their first home win of this league campaign. Very close fought game, 2-1.
This fixture is a repeat of the game that started the season for both these clubs, on that occasion the sides settled for a point a piece after David McDaid’s late goal gave Harps a share of the spoils in the opening day 1-1 draw between the sides at Station Road. In May, Kildare travelled to Ballybofey and were defeated by two goals to one, with Conor Gethins scoring both goals for the home side. Gethins hasn’t played for Harps since then, having dislocated his shoulder.
For Finn Harps, midfielder Shaun McGowan, who has been an ever present in league action this season, misses the trip to Kildare through suspension. Oisin McMenamin returns to the panel, having missed the 1-1 draw with Shelbourne last time out. Ian Rossiter, Marc Brolly, Fintan Bonner and Paddy Bonner join long term absentees Conor Gethins and Johnny Havlin in the treatment room.
Harps manager James Gallagher believes that Kildare are a side better than their lowly place in the league, especially since Joey Somerville strengthened the side recently with some experienced signing.
“Down there at the start of the season, we had enough chances to win the game and really should have taken the three points. On the other hand, it was a tricky enough game against Kildare in Ballybofey and we had to fight hard to get the win, and I'm sure it will be the exact same this Friday. Kildare are certainly a much-improved side and I think they are better than their position suggests. They've added a bit of experience and will be a test. They were unlucky to lose at Tolka Park against Shelbourne last week, when they conceded two late goals, and will be boosted to a degree by that.”
The game kicks off on Friday night at 20:00.
Extratime Prediction: Going to go out on a limb here and going to say that Kildare will earn their first home win of this league campaign. Very close fought game, 2-1.
About Gareth Penrose
Gareth Penrose founded extratime.com in 2008 and has worked as a reporter / editor / developer on the site since.
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