Finn Harps -v- Shelbourne

• Aidan O'Donnell
• Fri, Jun 25 2010


Finn Harps return to league action on Friday night as they welcome Shelbourne to Ballybofey for what is the first game back following the mid-season hiatus (kick-off 8pm).

They do so, hoping to carry on a slight upturn in results that had seen them lose just once in five outings since the start of the second series of games. That sole defeat, however, came in their last game before the break, a 2-1 loss to Limerick at Jackman Park, and manager James Gallagher is now keen not to make it two defeats on the bounce.

However, they will have to go into battle without two key players in skipper Packie Mailey, who serves a one-match suspension for four bookings picked up, and top scorer Kevin McHugh, who was sent-off late on against Limerick.

On a brighter note, veteran defender Jonathan Minnock will return to the match-day squad, having been on the sidelines for a number of weeks with injury.

“It’s a tough one to start with again after the break, but we are looking forward to it,” said the Harps boss. “Although we started poorly in Limerick, we played well in the second half and there was only the kick of a ball in it. It’ll be tough on Friday as we are missing two key players (Mailey and McHugh) in two key areas.

“However, the return of Jonathan Minnock should help us out at the back while up front we have players like Davitt Walsh, Oisin McMenamin and Stephen McLaughlin all looking for a starting place in the striker’s position.”
With five players leaving Harps in recent weeks and months (Johnny Lafferty, Liam Mailey, Fintan Bonner, Shaun McGowan and Jason Noctor), and taking into account the aforementioned suspensions, Gallagher’s squad for tonight’s game would appear to be one that is wafer thin and with little to no League of Ireland experience on the periphery.

“Our bench is likely to be very inexperienced, but with injuries, suspensions and players leaving, it has left us a little short. We have always had tight games against Shelbourne and earlier in the season they beat us 1-0 at Tolka Park. We weathered an early storm in that game and we were very unlucky not to have scored and taken a share of the spoils.”

The Drumcondra based side haven’t quite been able to hit top form so far this season and although they are just three points off Limerick and Monaghan in the play-off positions, they would have been expected to be leading from the front at this stage rather than playing catch-up.

Nevertheless, the task facing Harps tonight will be a stern one with the Donegal side not having registered a win against the Dubliner’s since September 2007. In last season’s encounters at Finn Park, Harps drew one (1-1) and lost the other (3-1).

Gallagher will also recognise the importance of getting something out of tonight’s game as Harps’ next two games are each away from home, albeit ones that they will feel confident in winning in the shape of Wexford Youths and Athlone Town, respectively.

Shelbourne Caretaker boss Collie O’Neill will have to work without the injured Eric Foley, who will be absent for up to six weeks with a hamstring injury, and Ian Ryan who picked up an ankle injury in training on Wednesday night.

Added to these two being missing, Philly Gorman is away on duty with the army and team captain, David McGill is suspended.

Venue: Finn Park
Paddypower.ie odds: Harps 21/10, Shels 11/10, draw 11/5
Referee: P. McLaughlin

Finn Harps
Doubtful: None
Injured: Ciaran Gallagher
Suspended: Packie Mailey, Kevin McHugh

Derry City
Unavailable: Philly Gorman
Injured: Eric Foley (hamstring), Ian Ryan (ankle
Suspended: David McGill

Extratime.ie Prediction: 1-1