Finn Harps -v- Longford Town

• Simon O'Gorman
• Fri, Apr 22 2011


Finn Harps will look to kick start their stuttering season on Friday night when they welcome Longford Town to Finn Park for the eighth round of the Airtricity First Division. (Kick off, 8pm)

An indication of Finn Harps’ early season difficulties lies in the statistic that come kick off on Friday night they will have played 505 minutes of football without scoring a goal. Of course, losing 5-0 away to Cork City last weekend might count as a more obvious signal that all is not well, but their difficulty in finding the net will be a significant worry for boss James Gallagher going into this game.

Scoring, as we all know, is a matter of confidence and that is something that is in short supply around Finn Park at the moment. With just three points to their name and lying second bottom of the league, Gallagher’s biggest task will be to instill his players with self belief. But Harps are as yet unbeaten at home, having drawn against Limerick, high flying Monaghan and Salthill Devon.

It should also be remembered that Harps played some decent football at Turner’s Cross and, but for some goal-line clearances, they could have got a positive result at Athlone on Tuesday. Another positive for Gallagher is the return of Marc Brolly from suspension and the rapid recovery of Ciaran Coll from what initially looked to be a serious injury suffered in the game against Cork City.

Longford, on the other hand, have enjoyed a relatively successful start to 2011 winning four of their opening seven league games. Furthermore, there are signs that Don Cowan and Austin Skelly are developing a strike partnership of genuine quality, a factor would rectify one of last season’s major shortcomings at Flancare Park.

They also have the marquee signing of former Manchester United and Northern Ireland international Keith Gillespie to look to, should morale start to flag at any point. Tony Cousins has put together an energetic and confident squad over the winter and for the first time in a number of years there is genuine optimism running through the club.

Finn Harps
Injured: Garbhan Friel (knee).
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: None.

Longford Town
Injured: Unavailable.
Doubtful: Unavailable.
Suspended: Unavailable.

Referee: Rob Daly.
Paddy Power Odds: Harps 13/10; Draw 21/10; Longford 9/5.
Extratime prediction: Another home draw for Harps, 1-1.