League Preview: Finn Harps -vs- Shamrock Rovers B

• Macdara Ferris
• Thu, Aug 28 2014




FINN HARPS

With just one defeat in their last 15 games, Finn Harps are looking to make the most out of home advantage when they welcome the Shamrock Rovers B team to Finn Park on Friday night (kick off 8pm). The fixtures have not dealt Finn Harps a great hand with this week’s game being their only home match in a seven week period.

 

Harps had a 2-1 away win against Wexford Youths in last week’s FAI Cup third round tie. Having been paired in the upcoming quarter final with the winners of the all non-league tie between Avondale and St. Michael, they will be eyeing up their first semi-final appearance in the FAI Cup in 15 years.

 

“First half in Wexford we played well and deservedly took the lead,” said Horgan speaking to FinnHarps.com about the win at Ferrycarrig Park. “Second half, Wexford had to come out and had most of the possession but we caught them high up the pitch for a second goal.

 

“However from there in, we were under serious pressure, conceded a goal, added to a sending off and eight minutes of injury time but we just about held out.” The red card for Damien McNulty means a suspension for the player in the cup quarter-final so he will be available for this league encounter but Darragh O’Malley is definitely out due to a shoulder injury.

 

Horgan is still hoping to get his team into the promotion play-off with the men from Donegal six points off a play-off spot. If they are to do that in the remaining six league games, a win against an in-form Hoops side will likely be required.

 

“Shamrock Rovers have won their last two games, including putting six past Cobh”, said Horgan. “They are a very confident young side that have a new freshness and excitement about them.

 

“Chris Lyons has scored in each of last two games including a hat trick, as has Cian Kavanagh, a talented young player among many others. They have already beaten us in Ballybofey so they won’t have any fear of coming there again.”

 

After this home game, Harps will be on their travels to play bottom side Cobh Ramblers next week. Coming into Friday’s game unbeaten in nine matches Horgan isn’t reading too much into the league position of the two teams they will play over the next week or so.

 

“Every game is a game we try to get something out of and the next few games are no different. I think we have had a lot of ‘must win’ games before that we didn’t win! And we know how difficult Friday’s game will be.”

 

SHAMROCK ROVERS B

The Hoops First Division team hit the road to Finn Park on Friday where they are looking for the first time this season to make it three wins out of three. Having gone 11 games without a win since a 1-0 victory away to Finn Harps back in May, the Hoops have now back-to-back wins. They won 2-0 away against Waterford United earlier this month before hitting Cobh Ramblers for six in their last league outing.

 

This Rovers team had a week off last week from competitive action as only one Hoops team is allowed in the FAI Cup. Colin Hawkins’ men weren’t idle though as they arranged an in-house match against the Shamrock Rovers under 19 team.

 

The 6-0 win over Cobh in the last league game in Tallaght made for a very happy birthday for their manager. Unlike his opposite number, Hawkins has been ensuring his team focus on these recent games as he explained when he spoke to extratime.ie after their last match (see here).

 

“We gave them a target for these three games against Waterford, Cobh and Finn Harps of at least seven points out of the nine points available and we have six. We broke it down, as we know we still need to play Longford, Shels, Wexford and Galway who we are up against when we play.”

 

Referee: Ben Connolly.

 

 

MATCH STATS

The teams have met three times this season with the away side winning on each occasion. In the second game of the season, Harps won 3-0 in Tallaght. The Hoops got their revenge in the fixture in Finn Park in May winning 1-0 with Stephen Confrey scoring eight minutes from time. Harps won on their return trip to Tallaght when Keith Cowan’s early goal earned them all three points in a game where they had two players and their manager sent off.

 

Finn Harps are the draw specialists in the First Division with 11 stalemates, four more than any other team in the division. They’ve drawn five of their last six league matches.

 

Ruairi Keating is top scorer for Harps so far this season. He has five league goals plus another from the EA Sports Cup. Ryan Doolin and Daniel Purdy have both made the most appearances of any player for Rovers First Division team with 17. However, Doolin has only started 15 games while Purdy has started in 17. Purdy is also the top scorer for the club in the division with six goals.

 

 

BETTING
Finn Harps 4/9; Draw 11/4; Shamrock Rovers B 6/1.

 

PREDICTION
1-1.

 

 

Finn Harps

Injured: Darragh Black.
Doubtful: Packie Mailey.
Suspended: None.

 

Shamrock Rovers B

Injured: Unavailable.
Doubtful: Unavailable.
Suspended: None