Credit: Extratime Team (ETPhotos)
Play-off Preview: Finn Harps - v - Limerick
- Dave Donnelly
- Fri, Nov 06 2015
FINN HARPS
Finn Harps have it all to do when they welcome Limerick to Finn Park (kick-off 7.45pm) for their play-off final second leg tie.
Harps trail 1-0 from the first leg at the Markets Field, but will take confidence from a display that saw them create numerous goalscoring chances, and Ollie Horgan's side can feel unlucky not to have registered on the scoresheet.
The smaller pitch at Finn Park should help Harps defensively against Limerick, for whom Monday's victory was the first time this season they've won a game without scoring at least three goals.
“The Limerick result could have been a lot worse on the amount of chances that they created,” said Horgan of the first leg.
“It will be very difficult to overturn Limerick with the quality that they have.
“We have to score and try to keep a clean sheet, something that very few Premier Division teams have achieved against Limerick recently.
“The supporters were great in Limerick as they have been all season all over the country – we need their full backing again on Friday as we need all the help we can get.”
Horgan will definitely be without Nathan Boyle after he suffered another flare-up of his hamstring issue, while Kevin McHugh may have played his last game for the club after missing the first leg. He, along with Damien McNulty and Raymond Foy, will be assessed on the night.
LIMERICK
Limerick arrived in Ballybofey confident they'll complete their phenomenal transformation to secure Premier Division football for next season, something that seemed unfathomable when they reached the half-way point in the season with just six points and no wins.
The Blues lead the tie thanks to Shaun Kelly's rasping first-half drive, and created enough chances to be disappointed only to have netted the once, but there were enough defensive lapses to suggest they will need to score again at Finn Park to make sure of the win.
Manager Martin Russell said: “We’re very much looking forward to the game. It’s the final day now. We know we’ve got a tough game on our hands but we go there in good spirits, going there with a one-goal lead.
“We have belief in ourselves. We’ve gone to big grounds like Turner’s Cross, The Showgrounds, and the big game in Drogheda where we had to win, and won.
“We scored a number of goals in those grounds, so we do believe we’ve got goals in us if the attacking players are right.
“But we know that Finn Harps, equally, have a big prize to play for, and we’re going to have to play well.
“We’re trying to do the right thing by travelling up on Thursday. It’s a long trip and staying overnight is another cost factor for the club.
“We’ll be prepared as well we can be and if we can get the strongest possible side out hopefully it will be good enough.”
Russell is sweating on the fitness of attacking trio Vinny Faherty, Dean Clarke and Ian Turner after all picked up knocks in the home fixture and will be assessed closer to kick-off, but otherwise Limerick have a full squad to choose from.
Referee: Derek Tomney.
MATCH STATS
Monday's meeting between the sides was the first time Harps and Limerick have met since the latter's First Division-winning season in 2012, when the Blues won three of four encounters, while a fourth was drawn in Ballybofey.
Monday was Harps' first defeat in 10 games, stretching back to August, while they remain unbeaten in eight home games. Limerick are unbeaten in five away trips, dating back to June.
Harps' concession against UCD in last week's second leg was only the second goal they've conceded at home in nine play-off games, eight of which they've won on the night, with only one draw.
BETTING
Finn Harps 12/5; Draw 23/10; Limerick 21/10.
PREDICTION
Finn Harps 1 – 2 Limerick
Finn Harps
Injured: Nathan Boyle.
Doubtful: Raymond Foy, Kevin McHugh, Damien McNulty.
Suspended: None.
Limerick
Injured: None.
Doubtful: Dean Clarke, Vinny Faherty, Ian Turner.
