League Preview: Galway FC -v- Finn Harps

• Trevor Murray
• Sat, Sep 20 2014




It's now or never for Galway FC this season in their drive to make it to the upper echelon – crunch time has well and truly arrived. This Saturday sees them welcome Finn Harps to Eamonn Deacy Park (kick-off is scheduled for 7.45 pm).

 

GALWAY FC

All season long, there's been a great deal of support for the club, and their home stadium has often buzzing with matchday fervour, something that should play a massive part in helping push them over the finishing line in the coming weeks.

 

Three wins from their last three league matches has put the Galwegians in an excellent position in the final series of games and all involved at the First Division's most recently formed club are sure to be nervous with excitement as the drama unfolds.

 

Wins against Longford Town, Waterford United and Shamrock Rovers B have underlined just how cut-throat Tommy Dunne's men have been of late, and they're unlikely to relent any time soon.

 

And Dunne is confident his men can continue their push for promotion when Harps roll in to town. Speaking ahead of the clash, he reaffirmed their self-belief.

 

We want to try and win every match between now and end of the season, that's our goal," Dunne admitted. If you win every match, that's including the play-off games - well then you will be promoted. It's a tough match on Saturday. It's been very tight in every league game against them, I don't see Saturday being any different. For us, we just hope we can perform to the best of our ability and that should give us a good enough chance of continuing our run."

 

FINN HARPS

Four league games remain for Finn Harps to navigate through, but it's likely they'll have a lot of their preparation set aside for Monday's FAI Cup semi-final draw.

 

A fantastic run has seen the Donegal outfit reach the last-four – an impressive achievement for a club that have lost all hope of getting into the First Division play-offs this season.

 

Sitting fifth in the table, 10 points adrift of Wexford Youths, Harps would do well to put this campaign down to experience. Solid at times, and non-existent in some matches, it's been a season of patchy form for them, but it's certainly been an educational few months.

 

And it's not been all doom and gloom with their successful cup exploits. A recent 4-1 win over Avondale United showcased exactly what they're capable of on their day.

 

Speaking ahead of the tie it was clear that Ollie Horgan was focusing heavily on their cup form.

 

“Our next league games are against three top teams in our Division and although they aren't at the level of our possible semi-final opponents of Derry, St.Pats or Shamrock Rovers, it will give us excellent preparation for that game.”

 

Referee: Darren Coombes

 

MATCH STATS

Finn Harps have won just six matches in the league. In contrast, Galway have lost less times than that with a conservative five defeats on the board.

 

Interestingly, defence seems to be Harps' best form of attack as they've got the second best defensive record in the division having conceded a miserly 18 goals, second only to Longford Town.

 

Galway FC's Jake Keegan has 10 league goals to his name so far this season – expect him to fire a few shots in anger throughout.

 

BETTING

Galway 1/2; Draw 11/4; Harps 6/1

 

 

PREDICTION

The men from Connacht need these three points to keep their promotion hopes alive. A comfortable win should follow. A final score-line of 2-0 to Dunne's charges.

 

Galway

Injuries: Enda Curran (hamstring)

Doubtful: Paul Sinnott (ankle), Colm Horgan (leg)

Suspensions: Stephen Walsh

 

FinnHarps

Injuries: Kevin McHugh, Brian McGrory, Packie Mailey

Doubtful: None

Suspensions: None