League Preview: Finn Harps -v- Shamrock Rovers

FINN HARPS

Harps come into the game against the Hoops (kick off 8pm) on the back of five wins in a row – three in the league and two in the FAI Cup.

Last week they won their first ever North West derby in the FAI Cup against Derry City. Tunde Owolabi was the match winner scoring the only goal of the game in Ballybofey, a week after he scored a hat-trick in the 3-1 home league win over St. Patrick’s Athletic.

They face the 2020 champions and current league leaders Shamrock Rovers on a weekend when the Hoops’ squad will be as threadbare as possible with suspensions, international matches and injuries ruling a host of players out.

With up to 2,100 supporters allowed to attend the game as COVID-19 restrictions eased this week, this is as good a game as any for Harps to beat the Hoops for the first time in 13 years.

“We got two of our better results at home when we had the guts of 800 people at the games,” said Ollie Horgan speaking to Highland Radio about having fans back at Finn Park in increasing numbers.

“We have missed the supporters. We need them to be patient with us playing Shamrock Rovers. It could be a long long night. We need them tomorrow night and in the remaining months. 

“Rovers have raised the bar. They are a joy to watch but I just hope to God from our point of view they won’t be a joy to watch tomorrow night.

“We need to be at our very best and Shamrock Rovers to be well below what they can get to. We would love to keep our unbeaten run going.

SHAMROCK ROVERS  

The Hoops come into the game having lost three games in a row for the first time since April 2018 but the only crisis that Rovers have at the minute is an injury one as prior to that they won eight matches in a row in all competitions for the first time since 1987 (including for the first time ever claiming three on the bounce in Europe). 

The Hoops dropped ten points from 15 on offer earlier in the season when they had their last injury crisis. That included a 1-1 draw with Harps in Tallaght when they failed to beat Harps for the first time in 14 matches.

Missing for the Rovers this week is Liam Scales following his departure to Celtic, Roberto Lopes is off on World Cup qualifying duty with Cape Verde, Ronan Finn is suspended and Lee Grace, Sean Hoare, Sean Kavanagh and Neil Farrugia are all injured with a couple of more knocks being dealt with in the camp too.

Barry Cotter, signed during the week, looks set to come straight into the team alongside Joey O’Brien and Sean Gannon with Max Murphy and Aaron Greene likely to be deployed at wing back.

Hoops Head Coach Stephen Bradley noted that “we'll be down a few bodies but that's football, it's no problem because the squad is strong."

Rovers were eliminated from Europe and the FAI Cup last week, with the Dublin derby defeat to Bohs at Dalymount Park being particularly painful conceding a winner to Bohs late in the game.

The focus for Rovers now is purely on retaining the title that they won last year and set themselves up at another shot of European group stage glory through the Champions route in 2022. 

"We just have to be calm and re-focus and get back to what we do,” said Bradley about the 2-1 loss in Dalymount. “If we do that, we'll be fine.

"I thought it was a poor game in general. It looked like we had come off the back of a hectic schedule. In terms of our performance, we were nowhere near what our levels can be so we know we can perform better.

"I think Finn Harps are playing really well. I watched them against St Pat's and they won the game quite comfortably and they were good against Derry as well. 

“It's a tough game but we're looking forward to it. We've had a nice break after the game on Sunday which we needed to re-focus and get ready."

Referee: Ben Connolly

MATCH STATS

The sides drew 1-1 in Tallaght Stadium the last time they met which stopped Rovers’ run of consecutive wins over Harps at 13.

Rovers have won eight in a row at Finn Park – six wins in the league and two in the FAI Cup – including last year’s 3-2 win when they came from two down at the break.  Aaron McEneff took three penalties scoring the second and third one before Graham Burke got the winner.

You have to go back to November 2008 for the last Finn Harps victory over the Hoops.

PREDICTION

1-1

Finn Harps

Injured: Unknown

Doubtful: Unknown

Suspended: None

Shamrock Rovers 

Injured: Sean Kavanagh, Lee Grace, Sean Hoare, Neil Farrugia

International duty: Roberto Lopes

Doubtful:  None

Suspended: Ronan Finn

Shamrock Rovers secure signing of Barry Cotter from Ipswich Town https://t.co/dtbmpAP4Yppic.twitter.com/d3PR5Adv2z

— Extratime.com (@ExtratimeNews) August 31, 2021