Credit: Jimmy McElroy (ETPhotos)
League Preview: Finn Harps -v- Galway United
- Dave Donnelly
- Thu, Aug 03 2017
FINN HARPS
Two of the league's form sides meet in Finn Park on Friday night (kick-off 7.45pm) as the battle to avoid relegation continues to intensify.
Last week saw Harps beat Bray Wanderers 3-2 on the seaside as goals from Eddie Dsane, debutant Mark Timlin and Ibrahim Keita saw them to victory.
That made it three wins from four games for Ollie Horgan's side, a run that's seen them move four points clear of the relegation zone and five clear of Galway.
“Just like ourselves Galway need to win tomorrow night,” Harps boss Ollie Horgan told the club's media team.
“They have a huge threat going forward with the likes of Gavin Holohan and Ronan Murray and with the experience that the likes of David Cawley brings in the middle of the park we will need to be at our very best to get a win against them.
“They drew with us in Finn Park back in March when they played us off the park in the second half.
“Most people would agree that Galway have been best footballing side that we have played at home all season.
“We got a good start down at Eamonn Deacy Park with Barry Molloy’s goal but their fitness and quality really told in the final 20 minutes of that game with Ronan Murray and Vinny Faherty giving them a 2-1 win.”
Danny Morrissey misses out with a hamstring injury, while Paddy McCourt, Killian Cantwell and Barry Molloy will be assessed closer to kick-off.
GALWAY UNITED
Galway United's three-game unbeaten run, which included wins over Limerick and Drogheda United, came to a halt with a 2-1 defeat at Cork City last Friday.
The Tribesmen took an early lead through former Leesider Gavan Holohan – who had scored a hat-trick against Drogheda a week earlier – but an own goal from Lee Grace completed the turnaround.
The departure of Grace – Galway's star performer this season – to Shamrock Rovers on deadline was a further blow for a side sitting 11th in the table – and things have gotten worse since.
"It really hasn't been ideal preparation, having so many players struck down with a vomiting bug,” Shane Keegan told the club's media team in advance of the trip to Ballybofey.
“A few of the players have returned to training, but they're under the weather and they didn't take part in full training sessions. A couple more missed all our sessions and look to be ruled out unfortunately.
"It's not ideal in terms of getting bodies onto the field. It's not ideal either when you're doing match preparations on a Thursday and you're putting players into the team despite the fact they might not have trained all week.
"We know it's a big game and we'll put in players that feel up to it. Both of our games against Finn Harps this season have been very strange.
“When we played up in Finn Park, we did well, we hit the woodwork three times and were particularly impressive in the second half, but we only got the draw.
"When we played Finn Harps in Eamonn Deacy Park, I don't think we deserved to beat them to be honest. It's two evenly matched teams and it could swing either way.
"It's vital we go up to Finn Park and deliver one of our best performances of the season, regardless of the personnel that are on the pitch. We have a job to do."
As well as Grace, Galway bade farewell to striker Vinny Faherty as he joined relegation rivals Sligo Rovers on deadline day, with Brighton loanee Jonah Ayunga moving in the opposite direction.
Colm Horgan, Gavan Holohan, Marc Ludden, Conor Winn, Ronan Murray, Maurice Nugent and Gary Kinneen are doubtful with the effects of the vomiting bug, while Conor Melody misses out with an ankle injury.
Referee: Neil Doyle
MATCH STATS
Harps and Galway have met twice already this season, with the Tribesmen holding a slight edge over their relegation rivals.
The first meeting at Finn Park in March ended in a 1-1 draw as Kevin Devaney struck early in the second half to cancel out Sean Houston's opener.
The last encounter, at Eamonn Deacy Park in May, saw Harps again lead through Barry Molloy but Ronan Murray equalised and Vinny Faherty scored the winner in injury time.
BETTING
Finn Harps 7/5; Draw 23/10; Galway United 19/10.
PREDICTION
Finn Harps 2 – 2 Galway United
Finn Harps
Injured: Danny Morrissey (hamstring).
Doubtful: Killian Cantwell (knee), Paddy McCourt (hip), Barry Molloy (ankle).
Suspended: None.
Galway United
Injured: Conor Melody (ankle).
Doubtful: Colm Horgan, Gavan Holohan, Marc Ludden, Conor Winn, Ronan Murray, Maurice Nugent, Gary Kinneen (illness).
Suspended: None.
