League Preview: Shamrock Rovers B -v- Finn Harps
- Macdara Ferris
- Sun, Mar 16 2014
SHAMROCK ROVERS B
First Division football debuts in Tallaght Stadium on Sunday when Shamrock Rovers B take on Finn Harps (kick-off 3pm). Colin Hawkins’ Hoops team comes into the game feeling unlucky they are still seeking their first competitive win, having conceded an 88th minute equaliser away to Cobh Ramblers on the opening night of their campaign.
“It will be a big day for us as we play the first home First Division game at Tallaght Stadium,” said Hawkins. “We were very happy with the performance in Cobh last weekend, despite it being gutting to concede late and not get the win we deserved.”
For all the discussion about Rovers dropping Premier Division players down into their First Division team, that 1-1 draw in St Colman’s Park was earned without the need for any of Trevor Croly’s first team squad. It was those signed by Hawkins specifically for this division, along with players promoted from the Under 19 team, who were involved in the game in Cork.
Hawkins has great confidence in those young players who have won seven Under 19 games in a row and have a shot at winning the elite Under 19 division going into the final game of their season. They earned that title shot following a 1-0 win over league leaders Shelbourne during the week but Hawkins is aware of the amount of recent appearances those players have made.
“The Under 19s had another good win during the week and that will be a boost again this weekend. We’ll probably freshen things up a bit from last week, as some of the players have played a lot of games recently.”
The small band of Rovers fans who made the trip to Cobh last weekend saw their team produce some fine football on a sticky pitch. Daniel Purdy scored their first ever competitive goal, with the 20-year-old player finding the top corner of the net with an excellent first half strike. However, his team faded in the second period which is something that Hawkins won’t want to happen again as they make their home debut.
With Rovers playing in the Setanta Sports Cup on Monday, it remains to be seen which Premier Division players, if any, come into the First Division squad for this game.
FINN HARPS
It is a double debut in Tallaght Stadium on Sunday as Finn Harps, like the home team, play their first ever competitive match in the Dublin venue. Both clubs also come into the game, having drawn their opening league fixture, with Harps earning a 0-0 at home to Waterford United last week.
“We have a hugely difficult game ahead of us on Sunday,” said Harps manager Ollie Horgan speaking of the challenge of the trip to Tallaght. “They have a very talented young team in Shamrock Rovers and when you add in a few of their professional players from the first team from Friday night’s Premier League game, they will present a very difficult proposition on what is a massive pitch at Tallaght.”
The Horgan era at Harps began last weekend with a scoreless draw against Waterford United at Finn Park but they got their first win of the season on Monday when they beat Cockhill Celtic 3-2 in the EA Sports Cup at home. While striker Kevin McHugh played in the league game, he missed the cup game and is likely to miss the game in Tallaght due to a hamstring injury
“I had mixed thoughts after Friday’s game,” said Horgan. “I was disappointed with the first half performance and we were lucky not to have been behind at half time. But I was much happier with the effort in second half. Although the best chance on the night fell to Paddy Barrett for Waterford, we also could have sneaked it with chances that fell to Ruairi Keating and Sean McCarron.
“I was delighted to get a win on Monday night [in the EA Sports Cup]. Cockhill caused us a lot of problems especially from set pieces. We knew going into the game it would be difficult and it proved to be. There is still room for a lot of improvement.”
In addition to the likely loss of legendary striker Kevin McHugh for the game against Rovers, reports in the local press are that both Sean McCarron and Ciaran Coll will miss the game in Dublin. McCarron, who scored Harps’ first goal of the season as he got the opening strike against Cockhill Celtic during the week having scored 12 goals last season, broke his cheekbone in training according to the Donegal Democrat. They also reported that defender Coll is expected not to be part of Sunday’s match day squad.
“There was nothing hugely impressive from the first two games,” said Horgan about the start to their season, “although we showed a little bit of bottle that can be worked on. There is still a lot to work on. The amount of free kicks we gave away, especially in the Cockhill game, and indeed defending them is something we can learn from. We still need to be sharper on the second ball but hopefully that will come as players gain more match sharpness.”
Referee: Ray Matthews.
MATCH STATS
Finn Harps won the last competitive game between the two clubs. That was in the final match of the 2008 Premier Division season when Harps claimed a 2-0 victory. Earlier that season, and the last time Harps travelled to Dublin to play the Hoops, they also won 2-0 in a league game played in Tolka Park.
Daniel Purdy, who scored the Rovers First Division’s team’s first ever goal, scored six goals last season as part of the Longford Town team who just missed out on promotion to the Premier Division following a heartbreaking play-off defeat to Bray Wanderers. He comes from a family with strong connections with the club. His father Richie played with the Hoops during Rovers’ tenure in Tolka Park and Santry in the late 1990s and Daniel’s younger brother Richie, an Irish Under 17 international, is also part of Rovers’ First Division squad.
Harps goalkeeper Conor Winn was previously a player with the Hoops but played just once for Shamrock Rovers. His only appearance was in a 4-1 home win for the Hoops over Dundalk in the Leinster Senior Cup in July 2013. The following month he made the move to Oriel Park before signing for Finn Harps over the winter break.
BETTING
Rovers 5/4; Draw 23/10; Finn Harps 7/4.
PREDICTION
2-1 debut home win for the Hoops.
Shamrock Rovers B
Injured: Shane Fagan (quad), Muhanned Bukhatwa (groin), Mick Kelly (groin).
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: None.
Finn Harps
Injured: Sean McCarron, Ciaran Coll, Kevin McHugh.
Doubtful: Damien McNulty (virus), Gareth Harkin (hamstring), Josh Mailey (calf)
Suspended: None.
About Macdara Ferris
Macdara Ferris is a contributor since 2007 to Hoops Scene (Shamrock Rovers' match day programme) and is the co-author of two books on Shamrock Rovers - 'Tallaght Time: Shamrock Rovers 2009 to 2012' (with Karl …