League Preview: Dundalk -v- Finn Harps

DUNDALK

Dundalk continued to do business this week, signing a food supplier deal with a local coffee shop while also bringing a premium rolled ice cream group on board.

However, it is on the pitch where the fans will have the most interest in what players are signed. The Lilywhites side have finalised a deal for Han Jeong Woo, a 22-year-old right-winger who has been capped at both U-18 and U-22 level for South Korea.

Having departed Suwon FC in January after helping them to promotion to the topflight, Jeong Woo returns to Europe after a stint in Kazakhstan pre Covid.

Dundalk will play their first home competitive game of the season and will hope to improve on their draw away to Sligo last week, with Finn Harps making the trip to Oriel Park on Friday evening (kick-off 5.45pm).

Team Manager Shane Keegan is wary of the threat Finn Harps pose after the Dundalk side beat Bohemians last week.

“Harps had a brilliant win over Bohemians on the opening weekend of the season,” Keegan said, speaking to the club’s website.

“On one hand, the result was surprising because you would expect Bohemians to be challenging for the top three but, on the other, it wasn’t that big of a shock because everyone hates playing them in Ballybofey and, from a continuity point of view, they have had the least amount of turnover to their starting 11.

“From our own point of view, it’s our first home game of the campaign and we definitely need to make Oriel Park a fortress.

“I know it’d be a lot easier to do that with the place packed but it’s the same situation for everybody. We have to get back to making it a place where teams just dread coming to.”

In terms of team news, Michael Duffy should be available to start, while Brian Gartland remains a doubt but there will definitely be no Sonni Nattestad or Raivis Jurkovskis who are away on international duty.

South Korean Han Jeong Woo will be in the squad after training this week but is not deemed fit enough to start.

FINN HARPS

Harps will arrive at Oriel buoyed by a great result last week, beating Bohemians 1-0 in Ballybofey with Adam Foley’s strike just before the halftime whistle grabbing the three points for Ollie Horgan’s side.

Oriel Park will provide a different test for the Donegal side, but they will bring confidence as they earned a relatively comfortable 0-0 draw in Dundalk towards the back end of last season.

Players who were pivotal in that performance such as Kosovar Sadiki, David Webster, Shane McEleney and Barry McNamee will benefit from more time playing together while new signings such as Conor Barry, Tunde Owolabi and Will Seymore will look to make an impact.

Sean Boyd who has had a torrid time with injuries, came on with 20 minutes left last week and the former Shamrock Rovers player will be hoping to recapture his old form and perhaps put Dundalk to the sword on Friday.

Games against the sides traditionally near the summit of the table are regarded as somewhat as a free hit for Horgan’s men but after last week’s result, they could fancy taking a result from Oriel Park.

Referee: Derek Tomney

MATCH STATS

Finn Harps picked up a point in Oriel last season, whereas Dundalk took all three in a 4-0 win when the sides met in Ballybofey pre-lockdown.

Ollie Horgan’s side haven’t scored against Dundalk in 5 games with their last goal against the Lilywhites coming over 2 years ago in a 1-1 draw at Finn Park.

Dundalk’s last loss to Finn Harps came in a First Division meeting between the sides in September 2007. Declan Boyle scored the only goal of the game at Finn Park to claim the three points for the Donegal side.

BETTING

Dundalk 4/9; Draw 3/1; Finn Harps 5/1.

PREDICTION

Dundalk FC 1-0 Finn Harps

Dundalk

Injured: Val Adedokun, Ole Midtskogen, Daniel Kelly, Sean Murray.

Doubtful: Brian Gartland

Suspended: None

Finn Harps

Injured: None

Doubtful: None

Suspended: None