Mervue United -v- Finn Harps

• Terry Flaherty
• Fri, May 13 2011


Finn Harps make their second visit of the season to Fahy’s Field on Friday night looking for a first win of the season, while their hosts Mervue Utd will be hoping to record back to back home wins. (Kick-off 7.45 pm)

Johnny Glynn’s home side will be looking to bounce back from a narrow 1-0 away defeat to Waterford Utd last week and the manager will be hoping for a performance like the one which ended Monaghan United’s unbeaten run at Fahy’s Field two weeks ago.

It has not been a good season so far for the Donegal Club, who have only three home draws to show from their nine league games so far in the campaign and a new management team of Peter Hutton and Felix Healy started their tenure with a 1-0 home defeat to Wexford Youths last Friday night. Hutton though feels that a win could do wonders for his young side.

“We are hoping for a positive result and a good performance. We need to cut out the silly mistakes and hope that the players take on board what we asking them to do. A win would certainly help us, and would help bring confidence back to the squad.”

Glynn was disappointed with the result in the south last week but is looking forward to the challenge Harps will bring “We are focusing on the Finn Harps game following the disappointment of last week’s game following a harsh penalty and sending off. After their loss also last week we will be expecting a tough challenge from Harps as they will be anxious to record a first win of the season”.

Johnny Glynn will be without captain Damien O’Rourke due to a recurring achilles injury and he will miss the next 10 weeks following the results of his MRI scan. Eric Browne will missed the game following his sending off against Waterford, but other than that Glynn will have a full squad to choose from as Nicky Curran, Tom King, Dan Cunningham and Alex Lee will all return to his squad having missed last week’s game.

Harps will have to plan again without the injured duo of Conor O’Grady and Gareth Harkin, who Hutton feels are both a week or two away from been back in contention.  “Ciaran Coll is a definite absentee as he hasn’t been able to train this week due to tonsillitis,” explained the new manager.  “Added to that, Packie Mailey is a doubt with a foot injury and Gary Whoriskey picked up a knock to his knee in training last night.”

Mervue Utd have already beaten Finn Harps this season having knocked them out of the EA Sports Cup at the end of March but it took extra time to separate the sides on that occasion so it all points to another tight game.

Mervue Utd
Injured: Damien O’Rourke (achilles).
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: Eric Browne.

Finn Harps
Injured: Conor O’Grady, Gareth Harkin, Ciaran Coll.
Doubtful: Packie Mailey (foot), Gary Whoriskey (knee).
Suspended: None.

Referee: John McLoughlin.
Paddy Power Odds: Mervue Utd 11/8; Draw 11/5; Finn Harps 7/4.
Extratime prediction: A 2-1 home win.