Finn Harps -v- Mervue United

FINN HARPS

Finn Harps will be looking to bounce back from an opening day 2-1 defeat to Limerick as they return to Finn Park for their first home game of the season.  

Stephen O’Donnell, who missed that game through suspension comes back into the fold, though Keith Cowan looks like being a long-term injury absentee. The defender picked up a double hairline fracture of the ankle in tlast week's game at Jackman Park and will miss at least the next couple of months.  Last week’s goal-scorer Adam Clarke will be hoping for his first start for the club.

“There were many positives to be taken from the Limerick game,” said Harps Director of Football Felix Healy. “We functioned really well as a unit and dominated for long spells in the match.  Being two down at half time it would have been easy to throw in the towel but we responded exceptionally well.

“This weekend will be, I would imagine, a completely different kind of football game,” added Healy.

“A bigger pitch will suit the type of football we will try to play as opposed to the very tight playing area at Jackman Park.  Hopefully we will create a bit more from open play.

Despite last week's defeat, there is no sign of early panic: “The next game is always the most important but I don't believe that it's what some people might suggest ‘is a must win.’  It's far too early for that.  However, as I've already stated, the quicker we get points on the board the better.”

MERVUE UNITED

Mervue United will also be looking to register their first win of the campaign following last week's 1-0 loss at home to Longford Town.

New signings Alan Murphy and Stephen Walsh come into contention, along with Jason Molloy. All three missed last Friday’s clash at Fahy’s Field through suspension.  

Also returning for the Westerners is Kenny Farrell, having recovered from food poisoning. Still missing through injury are Martin Conneely and Marc Ludden (both groin), while Philip Keegan and Daniel Tully are also unavailable as they are out of the country.

Speaking to the club’s website ahead of today’s clash, manager Johnny Glynn accentuated the positives from last week’s defeat:  "We were disappointed to lose last week but I thought we defended very well and Ronan Forde had a good debut in goals. This week we will have the three lads available and that should make a difference to the squad. Finn Harps will be a tough challenge as always at home and they have brought in a few new players and they did very well against a good Limerick side last week.”

Referee: Phil Caschera.

MATCH STATS

Mervue have lost on three of four previous visits to Finn Park .

They have also failed to score in three of those games.

On the occasion that they did manage to score, they did so three times in a 2-3 victory in June 2010.

BETTING

Finn Harps 6/5; Draw 9/4; Mervue United 2/1.

PREDICTION

Never easy to call at such an early stage of the season, but considering Harps’  good record in this fixture and the quality of players available it’s hard to look past a home win. 2-0

Finn Harps Injury News: Keith Cowan (ankle).

Finn Harps Suspension News: None.

Mervue Injury News: Martin Conneely and Marc Ludden (both groin); Philip Keegan and Daniel Tully (both away).

Mervue Suspension News: None.