League Preview: Cabinteely -v- Finn Harps

• Josh Dolan
• Fri, Aug 28 2015




CABINTEELY

Cabo will be aiming to finish their debut season in the SSE Airtricity League First Division in strong fashion, starting with Friday night's visit of third placed Finn Harps.

 

The league's newest club are two points ahead of First Division basement club Waterford United with six games to go, half of which are at Stradbrook.

 

Cabo boss Eddie Gormley received a blow this week, as he found out that he'll be forced to play out the remainder of the season without talented shot-stopper Evan Moran, who has left Stradbrook to take up a scholarship in the United States.

 

John McKeown is just one of three Cabo men who will miss the game through suspension after his red card in the Dublin side's last fixture which came in the form of a 3-2 defeat away to league leaders Wexford Youths two weeks ago.

 

Sodiq Oguntola and Victor Ekanem will also miss out through suspensions, although theirs are for picking up five bookings throughout the season.

 

In injury news, Shane O'Neill will definitely miss out, while calls on the fitness of both Jamie McGlynn and Darren Clark will be made closer to kick-off.

 

 

FINN HARPS

Finn Harps will be hoping to build on their 1-0 win over Shelbourne when they make the trip to the capital this Friday night.

 

"The Shelbourne game could have gone either way," said Horgan.

 

"Both teams had chances to win the game and maybe the little bit of luck went our way that weekend.”

 

Harps dropped out of the top two places in the First Division for the first time this season last week, and with UCD and Wexford Youths a point and two points ahead respectively as well as having one less game played than Harps, you'd believe that attaining automatic promotion would be a tough ask for the Ballybofey outfit. However, with both Wexford Youths and UCD still to visit Finn Park, Horgan is refusing to give up.

 

“All the games up to now and from now till end are as important as each other,” stated the Harps boss. 

 

“It doesn't matter when you pick up the points along the way, it is the number of points at end of season that matters," Horgan continued.

 

Looking ahead to Friday night, the Harps boss acknowledged that similar to previous meetings this season, Cabo will prove a tough test for his side.

 

“Cabinteely are always excellently organised and have added seriously to their squad in Peter Durrard, Richie Purdy and Evan Moran among others,” Horgan concluded. 

 

Harps defender Josh Mailey will return to the Harps squad for Friday's trip after completing his suspension. However, midfielder Matthew Crossan will be forced to sit this one out with a ban, while Kieran McDaid and Thomas McMonagle will miss out through injury.

 

Referee: John McLoughlin

 

 

MATCH STATS

Cabo will be looking for their first win in five games when Finn Harps visit Stradbrook on Friday night.

 

Eddie Gormley’s men will be looking to beat Harps for the first time this season.  The other three times the sides have met this season, Harps have recorded two 1-0 wins, while the teams played out a 1-1 draw at Stradbrook back in May.

 

Ollie Horgan will be hoping his side can avoid a third straight defeat on the road after recent defeats to title challengers UCD and Wexford Youths.

 

 

BETTING

Cabinteely 6/1; Draw 11/4; Finn Harps 4/9.

 

PREDICTION

Cabinteely 1-1 Finn Harps

 

 

Cabinteely

Injured: Shane O'Neill.

Doubtful: Jamie McGlynn, Darren Clark.

Suspended: John McKeown, Victor Ekanem, Sodiq Oguntola.

 

Finn Harps

Injured: Kieran McDaid, Thomas McMonagle.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: Matthew Crossan.