League Preview: Cork City -v- Finn Harps

CORK CITY

The pressure is on at Turner’s cross for the visit of Finn Harps on Friday night (kick-off 7.45pm - buy tickets here).

The Rebels will be looking to put some more distance between themselves and the Donegal side in order to avoid the possibility of a relegation playoff.

Recently appointed manager Neale Fenn is still looking for his first win since taking over and that surely adds to the pressure of the occasion.

Fenn has already seen his side suffer two home losses to Sligo Rovers and Waterford, as well as a defeat to Dundalk in Oriel Park and the former Longford Town boss is looking to arrest this stretch of bad form.

“It’s a big pressure game, it’s going to be very tough,” Fenn told the club’s website.

“I know Finn Harps well from last season when we played them a few times at Longford. It won’t be easy, they won’t let us rest. They’ll make it difficult for us, and they’re a big threat from set-pieces.

“We’ve worked on a few bits and we think we should be able to win the game.”

“We’ll try to enforce our game on them. They’re coming to our home ground, so we feel that we should enforce our game on them,” he added.

“We need to be better, as I’ve said to the players, at the other end when we’re not attacking. We’ve worked on little pieces of that and they’ve taken it on board and we’re fully confident going into the game now.”

The Cork squad will be bolstered by the return of Gearóid Morrissey to the squad after a spell on the sidelines through injury. Ronan Hurley has been ruled out, however, along with long term absentees Cian Murphy and Cian Bargary.

FINN HARPS

Harps make the long trip south as they attempt to take control of their destiny against Cork City. There’s a seven point gap between themselves and avoiding the relegation playoff spot, if they can leapfrog The Rebels.

Just below them UCD are nipping at their heels, five points behind and meaning the possibility of automatic relegation will not be too far from Ollie Horgan’s mind just yet.

Horgan’s side have also lost their last three Premier Division games and will be looking to get the three points when they meet one of their relegation rivals tomorrow night.

“We’ll be turned over by Cork if the same mistakes are repeated as happened in the Sligo game last Friday,” Horgan told the Finn Harps website.

“Neale Fenn still has the nucleus of the successful side that was there a couple of years ago and will have his players really up for us. They need a result just like us.

“So if we’re not up for it, then Cork will win. We’re in danger of UCD closing the gap more if we don’t get our act together quickly. 

“There is only five points between us now and we have to play UCD in Ballybofey on the 4th of October. We lost to Cork in that 4-3 game in Ballybofey and have drawn against them in the last two matches at Turners Cross and Finn Park. We’re going to Cork looking to get a result.” Horgan said.

Harps will be without the suspended Keith Cowan and Mark Coyle tomorrow night, while Ruairi Harkin and Mark Timlin are doubts. Ciaran Gallagher and Michael Gallagher are still ruled out through injury.

Referee: Rob Hennessy

MATCH STATS

Both sides have lost their last three league games in a row.

In their three previous meetings so far this season the sides have drawn twice, but Cork have the slight edge as they won in Ballybofey in March.

Just seven points separate the sides as the relegation battle heats up at the bottom of the table.

BETTING

Cork City 4/6; Draw 12/5; Finn Harps 7/2.

PREDICTION

Cork City 0 - 0 Finn Harps

Cork City

Injured: Cian Murphy, Cian Bargary, Ronan Hurley.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.

Finn Harps

Injured: Michael Gallagher, Ciaran Gallagher.

Doubtful: Mark Timlin, Ruairi Harkin.

Suspended: Keith Cowan, Mark Coyle.