League Preview: Finn Harps -v- Derry City

• Dave Donnelly
• Fri, Jul 26 2019




FINN HARPS

Finn Harps will head into the third league derby of the season against Derry City in high spirits after lifting themselves off the bottom of the table (kick-off 8pm – live on Eir Sport).

Last Friday’s 1-0 win away to Waterford, allied with UCD’s crushing 7-0 defeat at Shamrock Rovers, saw Ollie Horgan’s side move off the bottom on goal difference.

It’s welcome respite for Harps who, following their defeat to UCD three weeks ago, watched the Students go from four points behind to three clear.

The hard work never stops for Horgan’s side, however, and they face a Derry side who comfortably beat them 4-0 in their last league meeting at the Brandywell.

"We have lost twice to Derry in the league and they are fourth in the table,” the Galwayman told the club’s official website.

“So we're going into tomorrow night's game as underdogs. The bottom line is that we need to be at the top of our game to have any chance against Derry.

"We will be up against it with the quality Derry has so the backing of a big home support from start to finish would be a big lift for the players.”

Horgan will be without captain Ciaran Gallagher and joint-top scorer Nathan Boyle with injury, while Mark Coyle and Michael Gallagher are also on the treatment table.

DERRY CITY

Derry City will look to keep up the pressure on third-placed Bohemians with victory over local rivals Harps in front of the TV cameras on Friday night.

The Candystripes are unbeaten in more than two months following last Friday’s comfortable 3-0 win over Sligo Rovers at the Brandywell.

Goals from Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe – his seventh in six games – Jamie McDonagh and Jack Malone saw Declan Devin’s side ease to victory.

Derry have won all three of their meetings, in league and cup, with Harps this season but derbies always have a tendency to throw up shocks.

“It is a game we will have to be at our best,” Devine told the club’s official website.

“We have to go with confidence because we are playing well, but we have to go with respect as the history of these fixtures is that nine times out of ten they are games where incidents throw up.

“We have made sure we do our side of things and do the things we are good at.”

“If we don’t play to the level we play 95% of our games at, we will be in difficulty. Harps had a brilliant result in Waterford and we have to make sure we are at the top of our game.

“It is a derby and both sets of supporters will be demanding that they get effort and commitment. 

“Both sets of teams give that anyway and our players have been giving us real quality over the last few months.”

Devine has a full squad to choose from after Michael McCrudden returned to action last week, while new signing Grant Gillespiemay feature.

Referee: Neil Doyle

MATCH STATS

This is the fourth meeting between the sides this season, the third in the league, and Harps have yet to taste victory.

The first game at Finn Park in April ended in dramatic fashion with injury-time goals for both David Parkhouse and Mikey Place leading to a 3-2 win for Derry.

Ciaron Harkin scored a hat-trick when they met at the Brandywell the following month, while Parkhouse scored twice to secure an EA Sports semi-final spot the next week.

BETTING

Finn Harps 4/1; Draw 13/5; Finn Harps 18/3.

PREDICTION

Finn Harps 2 – 2 Derry City

Finn Harps

Injured: Nathan Boyle, Mark Coyle, Ciaran Gallagher, Michael Gallagher.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.

Derry City

Injured: None.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.