League Preview: Finn Harps -v- St Patrick's Athletic

• Brendan Graham
• Mon, Apr 22 2019




FINN HARPS

Finn Harps will host St. Patricks Athletic this evening (kick-off 5pm) still looking for their first three points of the 2019 season.

Ollie Horgan’s side had a tough time of it against Dundalk on Friday night eventually succumbing to a Daniel Kelly hat-trick and losing 3-0.

Following the result, Horgan remained upbeat and said that despite the poor start to the season, his players will still go into the game with a positive mind set on Monday.

Speaking to the media ahead of the game, Horgan said “The lads put in a big shift in Dundalk but came up short. We were good enough in the first half and had a few chances but when Daniel Kelly scored for them just before half-time that really was really a big setback and when he got the second there wasn’t going to be happy ending for us.

“Look, we move on and the preparations are now geared towards tomorrow evening and despite everything our players are positive.

“They will go out tomorrow night looking to get those three points that would give us all a big lift. With the quality that is in their squad I’m sure they are a little disappointed that they aren’t further up the table.  Chris Forrester and Mikey Drennan who got the goals against Sligo Rovers on Friday night will take some watching so we’ll have to be better defensively than we have so far this season”

Finn Harps have lost their last nine league games in a row since picking up their last point and that was against St. Pats in a 0-0 draw at Richmond Park.

Their one win this season so far came a few weeks ago in the second round of the League Cup against Sligo Rovers.

 

ST. PATS

St. Pats were much improved on Friday night against Sligo Rovers and will travel to Finn Park confident of getting another three points on the board this evening.

Chris Forrester scored his first league goal of the season on Friday and said himself after the game that he feels there is plenty more to come from himself in the coming weeks.

Although Finn Harps are without a win in twelve league games, Harry Kenny is well aware of how tough this evenings game will be and ensures they will have to be at their very best to come away with all three points.

"I was really pleased with Friday's result against Sligo," Kenny told stpatsfc.com. "We played well in the first half, and Chris Forrester got a great goal. We did enough to see it out in the end, so that win will hopefully set us up nicely going into Monday's game against Harps.

"We know that Harps can be really tough opponents having drawn with us in Inchicore last time out. Ollie Horgan will have his team well organised and Finn Park is always a tough place to play in as it traditionally is a real fortress for them.

"However we hopefully are going into the game with a bit of confidence and if we can show the same level we produced on Friday, we have a chance of coming away with a result."

St .Pats welcome back Kevin Toner after his suspension but fellow centre half Dave Webster is suspended for this evening’s game.

Jamie Lennon faces a late fitness test.

Referee: Robert Rogers

 

MATCH STATS

Finn Harps are yet to win a league match this season and have so far drawn won and lost five of their league games at Finn Park.

St. Pats have picked up just five points from a possible fifteen on the road so far this season.

 

BETTING

Finn Harps 4/1; Draw 13/5; St. Pats 8/13

PREDICTION

Finn Harps 1-2 St. Pats

 

Finn Harps

Injured:  Harry Ascroft, Mark Timlin, Gareth Harkin, Ciaran Gallagher

Doubtful: Jacob Borg, Sean Boyd

Suspended: Colm Deasy

St. Pats

Injured: None

Doubtful: Jamie Lennon

Suspended: Dave Webster