Mervue United -v- Finn Harps

MERVUE UNITED

Johnny Glynn’s Mervue Utd have endured a very disappointing start to the 2012 Airtricity League season and have yet to register a win as they sit bottom of the table with only two points from eight games.

The Galway club will be hoping their fortunes can change starting with tonight’s game against Finn Harps. Following some narrow defeats in series one, they began series two with another defeat after a disastrous opening twenty five minutes saw them concede four goals against league leaders, Longford Town, last weekend at Flancare Park in a 4-2 defeat. In a somewhat strange game they did dominate the second period with Pat Hoban scoring twice but the damage had been done in the opening half.

Injuries and suspensions have also blighted the season thus far and defenders Martin Conneely (groin) and James Casserly (groin) remain on the sidelines, while Tom King’s comeback has been put back a couple of weeks and goalkeeper Brian O’Donoghue joined the injury list having broken a bone in his hand and will be out for six weeks..

Defender Stephen Walsh returns having missed the last three league games through suspension, while Jason Molloy will also return to the squad having missed last week’s game in Longford.

Manager Johnny Glynn on this weekend’s game “We were very disappointed with last week’s first half display in Longford but the second half performance was encouraging as we played a lot better and kept our discipline and we battled to the end. Finn Harps have made a good start to the season and will be tough opponents for us. I saw them play recently in Longford and was very impressed with their organisation and team ethic which was very evident.”

FINN HARPS

Finn Harps will look to get back to winning ways with their trip to Galway having had their three match winning run ended by title favourites Limerick as they secured all three points with a 3-1 win in Finn Park last Saturday night.

Harps have had a mixed start to their First Division campaign, winning four and losing four, but do have twelve points having won two and loss two games both home and away. They will be without midfielder Thomas McBride as he saw red in last week’s defeat and will serve an automatic one game ban, while Keith Cowan, Ciaran Gallagher and Stephen O’Donnell continue to miss out with long term injuries.

There are always goals when these two sides meet as their first meeting of the current season produced a seven goal thriller as Harps prevailed 4-3 in Finn Park last month.

Finn Harps Director of Football, Felix Healy, was disappointed to see his side lose their recent unbeaten run against Limerick last weekend but said his side can have no complaints about the result.

“The result was a reflection of the game,” said Healy.  “We never really got going at all.  A few individuals never contributed enough on the night.  Collectively we weren’t compact enough as a unit and we obviously didn’t defend very well from set pieces which effectively cost us the game. Obviously we will be hoping to bounce back against Mervue this Friday but as I’ve said previously there are no easy games in this division.”

Referee:  Paul Tuite (Dublin).

MATCH STATS

Finn Harps have yet to win at Fahy’s Field as the home team won all three meetings at the Galway venue last season including a league cup win and two league wins.

Mervue gained their first ever LOI point in their third game of the 2009 season following a 1-1 draw with Finn Harps at Terryland Park as Conor Gethins denied the Galway club a first win with a 91^st minute equaliser.

Harps veteran striker Kevin McHugh netted his 150^th goal for the club in the 4-3 win last month as he scored twice to reach a milestone that not many players achieve with the one club. He has scored five times in total against Mervue.

BETTING

Mervue Utd 17/10, Draw 11/5, Finn Harps 7/5.

PREDICTION

A score draw, 2-2.

Mervue Injury News: Martin Conneely (groin), James Casserly (groin), Brian O’Donoghue.

Mervue Suspension News: None.

Finn Harps Injury News: Keith Cowan (fracture ankle), Stephen O’Donnell (medial ligament), Ciaran Gallagher (hairline fracture skull).

Finn Harps Suspension News: Thomas McBride.