Shelbourne -v- Finn Harps

• Gareth Penrose
• Tue, Oct 25 2011




Shelbourne welcome Finn Harps to Tolka Park on Tuesday night knowing that a win against the Donegal side will seal promotion back to the Premier Division, after a five season absence. Kick-off for the game is 8pm.

 

Whilst Shelbourne will be pushing for to gain that coveted prize of top division status, Finn Harps know that a win will put them on level points with Mervue United and the possibility of climbing a few league places by season's end.

 

Shelbourne’s record against the Donegal side is very respectable, having not lost to them in any of the games played, home or away, since the start of the 2009 season, the stats showing six wins and two draws.

 

Both sides are coming into the game on the back of 4-1 victories; Shelbourne away to Salthill Devon and Harps at home to Wexford Youths.

 

David McGill and Lorcan Fitzgerald will once again be missing from the Shels line-out as will Collie James, who picked up an additional two game suspension following the red card against St. Patrick’s Athletic in the FAI Cup Semi-final. Other than that trio, manager Alan Mathews has a full squad to select from.

 

After Saturday night’s win against Salthill Devon in Drom, Alan Mathews spoke to ShelsTV.

 

“The players were excellent tonight. On another evening we could have possibly scored more goals. It’s always difficult in this league to go anywhere and get three points, but we did well this evening and I’m delighted we scored four goals”.

  

Asked about Tuesday night’s game, Mathews responded “Tuesday’s game – we know what a result would mean to us, a win would get us promotion, so that’s all we’ll focus on for now. Tonight’s performance got us into that position. We need to ensure we take advantage of it now”.

 

Finn Harps welcome back Ciaran Gallagher and Stephen O'Donnell from suspension and Peter Hutton will have a full squad to choose from.

 

Talking to the Donegal Democrat, Director of Football Felix Healy was confident his side can cause Shels some bother. “It’s a massive game for them and they will be under an awful lot of pressure,” Healy said. “But they’ve had a number of big pressure games over the last three or four weeks and they’ve come out of the Pat’s one really well.

 

“It will be a test for us but if we can play like we are capable of playing, we’ll cause them problems.”

 

Shelbourne
Injured: David McGill, Lorcan Fitzgerald
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: Colm James 

 

Finn Harps
Injured: None.
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: None.

 

Referee: Rob Rogers
Paddy Power Odds: Shelbourne 1/7; Draw 5/1; Finn Harps 12/1.
Extratime prediction: Shels to seal promotion, 3-1.