League Preview: Finn Harps -v- Cobh Ramblers

• Brendan Graham
• Fri, May 18 2018




FINN HARPS

Finn Harps welcome Cobh Ramblers to Finn Park on Friday evening looking to extend their unbeaten run to six games (kick-off 8pm).

Last week's scoreless draw with Shelbourne saw Harps cut the gap at the top with UCD to just five points.

Harps currently sit joint second in the table alongside Drogheda United and Galway United ahead of this weekend’s fixtures.

Ollie Horgan will be satisfied with the form his team are currently in having picked up crucial wins against title rivals Galway United, Longford Town and Drogheda United within the last month.

“I genuinely think Cobh are in a false position at the moment,” Horgan told the club's media team.

“They are eighth in the table but I expect them to finish well above that at the end of the season.

“Darren Murphy and Anthony McAlavey are fine players going forward and Paul Hunt is a very experienced goalkeeper.

“We have to try and get three points from every home game but that won’t be easy and again we may be calling on a couple of the younger lads to step up and help get us a result.”

Paddy McCourt, Mark Timlin, Ciaran Coll, Adam Duffy and Keith Cowan are all doubtful due to knocks picked up in recent games.

Gareth Harkin and Liam Walsh are out with long term injuries, but Aidan Friel is back in contention.

 

COBH RAMBLERS

Cobh Ramblers travel to Ballybofey looking for their third win on the bounce having beaten Cabinteely in the league and Longford Town in the EA Sports Cup quarter final.

They currently sit in eighth position in the table on just 11 points and will be hoping to maintain their recent good form tonight against Finn Harps.

A win tonight could see them move up a place in the table and leapfrog Cabinteely depending on how other results go.

Their away record to date this season is mixed, having played six away games and picked up two wins, two draws and two losses ahead of their seventh away fixture of the campaign.

Cobh have not provided any team news.

 

MATCH STATS

Finn Harps are unbeaten in five games ahead of tonight’s fixture while Cobh themselves are unbeaten in two.

Finn Park has been somewhat of a fortress in the early parts of the season for Harps as they remain unbeaten after five home games so far winning three and playing out two draws.

Both sides have an identical away record ahead of tonight’s fixtures with both clubs recording two wins, two draws and two defeats from six games on the road to date.

 

BETTING

Finn Harps 10/11; Draw 21/10; Cobh Ramblers 11/4.

PREDICTION

Finn Harps 2-1 Cobh Ramblers

 

Finn Harps

Injured: Gareth Harkin, Liam Walsh.

Doubtful: Paddy McCourt, Mark Timlin, Ciaran Coll, Adam Duffy, Keith Cowan.

Suspended: None.

 

Cobh Ramblers

Injured: None.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.