FAI Cup Preview: Fairview Rangers -v- Finn Harps

FAIRVIEW RANGERS

FAI Junior Cup champions Fairview Rangers welcome League of Ireland Premier Division outfit Finn Harps to Fairgreen on Saturday afternoon (kick-off 4pm).

The Limerick District League side booked their place in the first round proper with a penalty shoot-out victory over Athenry, whom they also edged out in the Junior Cup semis.

Goals from Conor Coughlan and Eoin Duff forced extra time and a shoot-out, and the Limerick side held their nerve to progress.

Jason Purcell’s side will hope to keep the dream going in front of 200 fans when they face off against semi-professional Harps on home soil.

Fairview last faced Harps in the quarter-finals of the 2002 FAI Cup, when they were beaten 2-0 at home by the Donegal side.

FINN HARPS

Finn Harps make the long trip south to Limerick as they kick off their FAI Cup campaign in search of a morale-boosting win.

Harps have experienced a slump in form in recent weeks, without a win in seven games since edging out Waterford in late May.

Five defeats and two draws in two months has put the skids on Ollie Horgan’s side’s strong showing in the early rounds and a trip to non-league Fairview might prove a tonic.

“Fairview are not to be underestimated under any circumstances,” Horgan told the club’s media team.

“They have an outstanding record in the Junior Cup and were worthy winners last year. They’ll be well up for it on their home patch.

“Things haven’t been going our way the past few weeks so hopefully we can put in a good performance and regain some of that confidence we had earlier in the season.”

Tunde Owolabi and Ethan Boyle both miss out with suspension, while there are doubts over top scorer Adam Foley, Barry McNamee, Shane McEleney and Will Seymore.

Referee: Graham Kelly.

MATCH STATS

Fairview last faced Harps in the quarter-finals of the 2002 FAI Cup, when they were beaten 2-0 at home by the Donegal side.

BETTING

Fairview Rangers 11/1; Draw 9/2; Finn Harps 2/11.

PREDICTION

Fairview Rangers 0 – 2 Finn Harps

Fairview Rangers

Injured: N/A.

Doubtful: N/A.

Suspended: None.

Finn Harps

Injured: None.

Doubtful: Adam Foley, Barry McNamee, Shane McEleney, Will Seymore.

Suspended: Ethan Boyle, Tunde Owolabi.