League Preview: Finn Harps -v- Waterford United

• Simon O'Gorman
• Fri, Jun 27 2014




FINN HARPS

Harps enjoyed a promising start to the 2014 season with impressive wins against Shamrock Rovers B and Cobh Ramblers. But Ollie Horgan’s men have since faded and they embark upon the second half of the season fifth of eight in the league standings and nine points shy of the promotion play-off places.

 

The Donegal side have drawn three and lost one of their last four league matches and have won just once in their last eleven; a 2-0 win away to Cobh, a side who have failed to register a single win in 2014.

 

Nor is there much comfort to be taken from Harps’ record against Waterford this year. A scoreless draw at Finn Park on the opening weekend of the season was followed by a 2-0 defeat at the RSC in April, and the Blues (along with Longford) remain one of two sides that Harps have yet to score against this year.

 

Horgan approaches the return to league action without being able to call on either Damien McNulty or Sean McCarron. McNulty serves a suspension while striker McCarron will miss out as he continues his recovery from a broken ankle.

 

WATERFORD UNITED

Waterford make the long trip north to take on Finn Harps this Friday having already won four of the six points on offer between the teams this year. But The Blues will know that another three points are needed if they are to close the gap between them and the top three in the First Division table.

 

Waterford are currently four points adrift of the play-off places and with Longford and Galway both in a particularly rich vein of form, the Blues don’t have much wriggle room if they are to be involved in the promotion shake-up come the end of the season.

 

Reasons to be cheerful include the fact that Tommy Griffin’s side have won both of their most recent away trips in the league, winning 3-1 against near neighbours Wexford Youths and beating Shamrock Rovers B 1-0 at Tallaght Stadium just before the break.

 

Griffin will be without the suspended Gary Delaney for the journey to Finn Park with Gavin O’Donovan and Paul Quilty also missing due to work commitments. Vinny Sullivan is also a doubt have suffered from an illness.

 

Referee: Rhona Daly

 

 

MATCH FACTS

Harps scored more goals in their 5-0 thumping of Cobh Ramblers at Finn Park than they have done in their other six home matches put together.

 

Only two Harps players have scored more than one goal this season; Ruairi Keating and Pat McCann who have each hit the net five times.

 

Waterford have scored ten goals in their last four league games, having managed just seven in their previous ten.

 

 

BETTING

Finn Harps 2/1, Draw 11/5, Waterford 6/5.

 

PREDICTION

Finn Harps 0-1 Waterford United

 

 

Finn Harps

Injured: Sean McCarron (ankle).
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: Damien McNulty.

 

Waterford United

Injured: None.
Doubtful: Vinny Sullivan (illness).
Unavailable: Gavin O’Donovan, Paul Quilty (both work commitments)
Suspended: Gary Delaney.