Derry City -v- Finn Harps - Where can I watch it and what do I need to know?

Week two of the 2020 League of Ireland and a second local derby has been scheduled for broadcast as Finn Harps make the short trip across the Foyle to face Derry City.

The first of those was a victim of Storm Denis as RTÉ were forced to pull their broadcast of the game late on safety grounds, though the game itself did go ahead.

Tonight will be former Derry City captain Barry McNamee’s first time back at the Brandywell since swapping the Candystripes for the blue and white of Harps over the winter break.

There are plenty of familiar faces in both line-ups, with former Harps captain Ciaran Coll going into his second season with Derry having spent almost a decade in Ballybofey.

Despite being favourites, Derry City come into the game beneath their local rivals in the table after falling to a narrow 1-0 defeat to Dundalk last week.

Harps earned three points on the opening day thanks to a bundled finish by new recruit Karl O’Sullivan and held firm at the back to ensure an opening-day clean sheet.

Derry have held the firm upper hand in this fixture in recent times, however, with Harps’ last win away to City coming in early 2017 during their year away from the Brandywell at Finn Park.

4-0 wins for Declan Devin’s side in both of the league games at the Ryan McBride Brandywell came either side of a 2-1 extra-time win as Derry reached the EA Sports Cup final.

Harps did manage to pick up a 1-0 win in a televised game at Finn Park in July, thanks to an emphatic Harry Ascroft finish, and they will be hoping the glare of the TV cameras inspires them once more.

What time is the match?



Kick-off is 7.45pm.

Where is the match?

The Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium, Derry

Who is the referee?

Rob Hennessy from Clare is the referee.

Are there tickets available?



A limited number of tickets are available from Derry City’s website here.

Where can I watch it?

The game will be shown live in the Ireland on RTÉ2.

Can I stream it online?

Ireland residents can watch the game on the RTÉ Player here.

Who are they key players to watch?

With last season’s golden boot winner Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe and David Parkhouse both having left during the summer, Declan Devine will rely on new signing Tim Nilsen for goals.

The Danish striker impressed manager Declan Devine enough in a pre-season friendly against Harps to sign on the dotted line and he’ll be eager to break his competitive duck sooner rather than later.

Goals have been traditionally hard to come by for Harps at the top level, too, but a poacher’s finish from debutant Karl O’Sullivan won all three points against Sligo Rovers last week.

If the former Limerick winger can replicate the form that saw him earn Irish underage caps, he may offer something completely different to the Harps attack.

Team news:

Derry are at full strength, but Harps will be missing Mark Timlin for the whole season, while Raff Cretaro and Paul Brady are doubts.

Read Paul Corcoran’s preview here.

Betting:

 

Derry City 1/4; Draw 4/1; Finn Harps 9/1.

Full list of SSE Airtricity League fixtures (all 7.45pm kick-off unless stated):

Derry City -v- Finn Harps

Shelbourne -v- Dundalk

Shamrock Rovers -v- Cork City (8pm)

Waterford -v- Bohemians

Sligo Rovers -v- St Patrick's Athletic

Wexford -v- UCD

Cabinteely -v- Bray Wanderers

Galway United -v- Athlone Town (postponed)