Waterford United -v- Finn Harps

• Raymond Denning
• Fri, Mar 30 2012




WATERFORD UNITED

Following contrasting results in the EA Sports Cup earlier this week, Waterford United  will look to bounce back quickly against Harps following a
heavy 6-1 home defeat to UCD on Monday night. Waterford have now conceded 16 goals in their opening five games of
the season.
 

However, the Munster side will look to maintain a 100% home league record (which includes wins over Limerick and SD Galway) against a team that has a poor record at the RSC.
 

United boss Paul O’Brien remains without the services Adam McSherry and Gary Keane, and Willie John Kiely has joined that list after being stretchered off against UCD. Sean Maguire and Jack Doherty may also miss out due to their involvement in Ireland’s U18 Schools International against Scotland the night before.

 

John Frost and David Breen remain doubts at the back. On the positive side, striker Daragh Walshe should be available for selection and the squad will be boosted
by the return of Gary Dempsey after illness and Seamus Long after missing Monday’s game because of college commitments.
 

FINN HARPS
Finn Harps will make their longest away trip of the season to the RSC buoyed by a 2-0 win over the Mayo League in the EA Sports Cup on Monday night. A win on Saturday afternoon would see the visitors leapfrog Waterford in the table; however the RSC is a venue where Harps last recorded a victory in August 2001.


With just one league victory (a 4-3 win over Mervue United) from their opening four games, the Donegal club’s Director of Football Felix Healy admitted that lapses in concentration at the back has cost them points this season. “It’s criminal that we only have three points after our first four league games, due to individual mistakes at the back,” stated the former Derry City manager.


Finn Harps will again be without Keith Cowan for the trip to Waterford, while Stephen O’Donnell is a doubt with a medial ligament
injury.


Speaking ahead of the match, Healy warned his side of the potential for a Waterford backlash: “Conceding six goals is never nice for any team but they recovered from a similar setback at Wexford in the opening match of the season to overcome Limerick and they’ll be going all out for a similar response against Harps.”
 

Referee: James McKell
 

MATCH STATS
Waterford United were relegated to the First Division at the end of the 2007 season following a 6-3 aggregate defeat to Finn Harps in the relegation/promotion play-off.


Waterford United have taken 13 out of a possible 15 points at home to Harps since both sides have been in the First Division.


Finn Harps have not won at the RSC in 11 visits; their last victory there saw them win 4-3 in August 2001.
 

BETTING
Waterford United 8/13; Draw 5/2; Finn Harps 4/1.


PREDICTION
Waterford United 0-0 Finn Harps.
 

Waterford United Injury News: Adam McSherry, Gary Keane, Willie John Kiely, David Breen (doubt), John Frost (doubt)
Waterford United Suspension News: None


Finn Harps Injury News: Keith Cowan, Stephen O’Donnell (doubt)
Finn Harps Suspension News: None