EA Sports Cup Preview: Finn Harps -v- Cockhill Celtic

• Gareth O'Reilly
• Tue, Mar 22 2016




Finn Harps welcome near neighbours Cockhill Celtic to Finn Park later today as the First Round of the EA Sports continues across the country.

 

FINN HARPS

Harps go into this game as large favourites having adjusted reasonably well to life in the Premier Division thus far, picking up an opening day victory over Derry City followed up by this past weekend’s 1-1 draw with Sligo Rovers.

 

Despite having the favourites tag, Manager Ollie Horgan will be taking nothing for granted come kick-off time.

 

“Cockhill are the best intermediate team around, winning the last three Ulster Senior Leagues.

 

“I know them well from my days at Fanad United and they have even improved since then.  This game will be very difficult for us, especially with a number of ex-Finn Harps players playing with Cockhill in Gavin Cullen. Gerry Gill and Garbhan Friel as well as a number of very talented young players like Peter Doherty, Darren Coyle and Ronan Doherty.


“James Bradley and Malachy McDermott are two excellent players who could play in the league comfortably,” concluded Horgan

 

Horgan may well decide to rest players in this League Cup outing as a lengthy injury list continues to build with Barry Molloy, Sean Houston, Josh Mailey and Michael Rafter all definitely ruled out while Dave Scully is in a race against time to be ready for this one after he suffered a groin injury on Saturday night against Sligo Rovers.

 

 

COCKHILL CELTIC

Celtic will be no pushover in this one as they are odds on to claim their fourth successive Ulster Senior League crown.

 

Cockhill will most notably be remembered by League of Ireland fans for their memorable run in last year’s FAI Cup in which they made it all the way to the end of August when they were eventually stopped by Longford Town having first beat Casement Celtic and then overcome St Mochtas.

 

In the 2015 edition of the EA Sports Cup though Celtic fell at the first hurdle as they came up against a strong Galway United team and went down comfortable on a score-line of 4-2.

 

Referee: Michael Connolly

 

 

MATCH FACTS

Cockhill Celtic are currently managed by a former Finn Harps player in the form of Gavin Cullen.

 

This will be the second time these two sides have come face to face, with the only other encounter also occurring in the EA Sports Cup two seasons ago – Harps won that game 3-2.

 

Ryan Curran, Damien McNulty and Dave Scully are the three men who have managed to score for Finn Harps this season, with the trio managing one goal each.

 

 

BETTING

Finn Harps 1/5; Draw 9/2; Cockhill Celtic 10/1.

 

PREDICTION

Finn Harps 2-1 Cockhill Celtic

 

Finn Harps

Injured: Barry Molloy, Sean Houston, Josh Mailey, Michael Rafter.

Doubtful: Dave Scully.

Suspended: None.

 

Cockhill Celtic

Injured: Unknown.

Doubtful: Unknown.

Suspended: None