Finn Harps -v- Cork City Foras Co-op

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Cork City make the long trip north to Finn Park this Friday evening to face Finn Harps with both sides looking to avoid successive defeats.

Finn Harps lost out 2-0 to top of the table Waterford United last weekend in the RSC while Cork City conceded a late goal in their 1-0 home defeat to Monaghan United.

Michael Funston sits this one out through suspension, having been sent-off in the final minutes of last weekend’s defeat against Waterford United. Jonathan Minnock and Ciaran Gallgher, both of whom are making progress, will also sit out Friday’s game. Kevin McHugh has a back problem, while Davitt Walsh also took a knock to his knee in training this week, and both are rated as doubtful for the weekend.

“They controlled the tempo of the game throughout and we just didn’t play well enough or cause them enough problems. Waterford had that extra bit of experience in their side and had one or two players with quality which proved to be the difference between the sides”, Harps manager James Gallagher said of last week’s defeat in Waterford.

“We have a few big games coming up, starting with the visit of Cork on Friday night”, Gallagher said. “We want to finish the first series of games on a high, and have three games coming up in the space of seven days. As a squad, we are really looking forward to the Cork game. We know if we can win, we will go above them on the table. However, it’s won’t be easy.”

Cork will be without the services of Gearóid Morrissey who is still troubled by a back injury, while John Dineen will also miss out as the defender is struggling with a hamstring injury. Goalkeeper Michael Devine is unavailable for the fixture due to work commitments, so Wesley Tong will travel in his place.

"it was a tough game against Monaghan last Friday”, City boss Tommy Dunne said. “They are a very experienced team and they showed that right at the end by winning a corner which they scored from. On the other hand we created opportunities ourselves to go in front which we didn't take, so we will be looking to put that right tomorrow night."

"We will be travelling with the belief that we can get a result. It is important that we stay in touch with the sides around us in the table. Every game in this division is tough, and Ballybofey has always been a tough place to go and try to get a result, no matter what the circumstances.”

Extratime Prediction: Cork City to win 2-1