League Preview: Finn Harps -v- St. Patrick’s Athletic
Darragh Burns celebrates his winner against Waterford Credit: Timmy Keane (ETPhotos)
Surprise package Finn Harps take on joint leaders St. Patrick’s Athletic in what promises to be a pulsating top of the table clash in the SSE Airtricity Premier Division at Finn Park on Friday afternoon (kick-off 5.45pm).
FINN HARPS
Ollie Horgan’s men will be looking to get back to winning ways with a home win to continue their excellent start to their league campaign so far and leapfrog their opponents from Inchicore towards the summit of the Premier Division.
The Harps had mixed fortunes in their double fixtures last Saturday and Tuesday evenings. Finn Harps narrowly lost out to Sligo Rovers 1-0 in the North-West derby in a close encounter at the Showgrounds last Saturday evening.
It was a hard fought match that could have gone either way but it was settled in the 51st minute thanks to a calamitous error by Harps’ goalkeeper Mark McGinley who gifted the ball to Sligo striker Johnny Kenny after taking a heavy touch from a back pass and the Bit O’Red talisman graciously accepted the gift and rolled the ball into the net for what proved to be the difference between the sides. The result ended Finn Harps unbeaten start to the league.
Ollie Horgan’s charges followed that up with a disappointing 0-0 draw against Longford Town at Bishopsgate on Tuesday evening. The Ballybofey side dominated the fixture for extended periods but found the home side a tough nut to crack and a combination of missed chances and robust defending denied Harps collecting maximum points.
Speaking to the Finn Harps website, boss Ollie Horgan is expecting a real challenge from Pat’s saying, “We’ll be doing very well to get anything from the game. They have bags of quality in that squad and have been flying to start the season. We’ll take a cut off it and hopefully get the rub of green and come away with something.”
Finn Harps had been unbeaten after the first four rounds of the league having beaten Bohemians (1-0), Dundalk (1-2) and Waterford (2-1) and drew 1-1 against Drogheda United at United Park before the defeat to Sligo Rovers.
In terms of team news Ollie Horgan will have to make do without the injured duo of Ryan Connolly and Shane McEleney and will be left sweating on the fitness of Conor Barry, Mark Timlin and Ethan Boyle. Harps have no suspensions this week.
ST. PATRICK’S ATHLETIC
Top of the table Pat’s will make the long and arduous trip to Ballybofey tomorrow looking to return to the top of the table with a win over Finn Harps.
Stephen O’Donnell’s men picked up four points out of six in their back to back matches having drawn 1-1 against Dundalk at Oriel Park last Saturday evening and then followed that up with a 1-0 win over Waterford at Richmond Park on Tuesday evening.
It proved to be an exciting game despite all the off pitch attention following the departure of the Lilywhite’s manager Shane Keegan. It was a very even first half with both sides creating chances but went in 0-0 at half-time.
The second half exploded into life in the 56th minute when Sam Bone put the visitors ahead and it looked to be the winning goal until up popped Junior to level for the home side and pick up a valuable point.
The Saints followed that up with a narrow 1-0 win over Waterford. The Inchicore side hit the ground running and took the lead after just two minutes thanks to Darragh Byrne’s strike. Despite dominating the half St. Pat’s failed to add to their lead before the interval.
The second half was a pretty unforgettable affair devoid of clear cut chances and the game petered out with Stephen O’Donnell’s side claiming all three points.
The results leave The Saints level on points with leaders Shamrock Rovers and maintain their unbeaten start to the league season having beaten Drogheda United (2-1), Bohemians (0-1), and Derry City (2-0) and also drawing 1-1 against Shamrock Rovers on the opening weekend of the league.
Saints boss O’Donnell is not taking his opponents likely telling St. Patrick’s Athletic website, "It's a very quick turnaround from the Waterford game. Finn Harps are in the same boat they played Longford Town on Tuesday evening too. We know we need to be at our very best, Finn Harps have had a great start to the season. It's always a tough place to go but we are looking forward to the game”.
Stephen O’Donnell has a slight selection headache ahead of the game with Cian Kelly and Jay McClelland remaining sidelined due to injury but otherwise a fully fit squad to choose from and they have no suspensions this week.
Referee: Robert Harvey.
MATCH FACTS
Finn Harps and St. Patrick’s Athletic met each other twice last season in the SSE Airtricity Premier Division with The Saints winning the first match 2-0 at Richmond Park with The Harps gaining revenge in the corresponding fixtures with a 3-2 win at Finn Park.
The sides have met each other 20 times in all competitions since the 2005 season with St. Patrick’s Athletic having the bragging rights with 13 wins to Finn Harps 4 with 3 draws.
Finn Harps scored 14 goals in the 20 matches averaging 0.7 per game while St. Patrick’s Athletic scored 41 goals in the 20 matches averaging just over 2 goals per game.
Finn Harps are currently in 4th place in the SSE Airtricity Premier Division on 11 points with 3 wins, 2 draws and 1 defeat from their 6 matches.
St. Patrick’s Athletic are currently in 3rd place in the SSE Airtricity Premier Division on 14 points with 4 wins and 2 draws from their 6 matches.
BETTING
Finn Harps 16/5 Draw 23/10 St. Patrick’s Athletic 4/5
PREDICTION
Finn Harps 1-2 St. Patrick’s Athletic
Finn Harps
Injured: Ryan Connolly, Shane McEleney
Doubtful: Conor Barry, Mark Timlin, Ethan Boyle
Suspended: None
St. Patrick’s Athletic
Injured: Cian Kelly, Jay McClelland
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
