League Preview: Finn Harps -v- Cabinteely

• Dave Donnelly
• Sat, Sep 22 2018




FINN HARPS

Finn Harps' final game of the season is something of a dead rubber after their 1-1 draw with UCD last week guaranteed second spot (kick-off 7.45pm).

Harps needed a win from if they were to stand any chance of pipping the Students to the title, and they took the lead with ten minutes to go through captain Keith Cowan.

Unfortunately for the Donegal side, Conor Davis levelled just two minutes later and UCD held on for the single point they needed to confirm top spot.

Saturday night's fixture doesn't mean much to Harps from a competitive point of view, but it will be their last game until the play-off first leg on October 12^th.

And a win or draw will stretch Harps' league unbeaten run to ten games as they head into the two most important games of their season so far.

“From our perspective this is a very important game as we need to have momentum going into the play-offs,” said manager Ollie Horgan.

“After tomorrow night we don’t have a game for a fortnight so it’s important that the lads put in a really good shift against Cabinteely whom we only beat narrowly twice this season.

“Whoever we play in the play-offs will have had the benefit of two very competitive games so that is something we have to be very mindful of and be as ready as we can be for the advantage that it gives to them.”

Mark Timlin remains out with injury, while Paddy McCourt and Mark Coyle are unlikely to be risked as they seek to shake off niggles before the play-off.

CABINTEELY

Cabinteely are all but assured of a seventh-place finish this season provided results in Cobh and Ballybofey don't go against them.

Pat Devlin's side have underachieved this season but they did manage to get a draw against promotion-chasing Shelbourne in their final home game of the season.

John Ross Wilson had put the Reds in front early in the second half but Dean Casey levelled things up just past the hour, and that's how it remained

That result ensured Cabo went unbeaten against Shels in the league with a win and two draws from their three meetings.

 

Referee: Marc Lynch

 

MATCH STATS

The sides have met twice so far in the league this season with Harps narrow winners on both occasions.

Sam Todd's late goal was enough to earn Harps all three points at Finn Park in April, while Keith Cowan was the only goalscorer in Stradbrook.

 

BETTING

Finn Harps 4/9; Draw 3/1; Cabinteely 9/2.

PREDICTION

Finn Harps 1 – 0 Cabinteely

 

Finn Harps

Injured: Mark Timlin.

Doubtful: Mark Coyle, Paddy McCourt.

Suspended: None.

Cabinteely

Injured: Unavailable.

Doubtful: Unavailable.

Suspended: None.