Preview: Finn Harps vs Bray Wanderers

• Chris McNulty
• Fri, Jun 27 2008




SEVEN players will miss tonight’s clash of Finn Harps and Bray Wanderers at Finn Park through suspension with both sides also feeling the strain of injury concerns ahead of the Ballybofey fixture (kick-off 8.00pm).

The home side are without banned defenders Stuart Malcolm and Shaun Holmes while midfielder Shaun Williams is the third Harps man to miss out having accumulated four bookings.

Bray aren't fairing much better on the suspension front and Seagulls Manager Eddie Gormley will have to prepare his side for the trip to Ballybofey with four players sidelined – Kevin Doherty, Ronan Ivory, Gary McCabe and Mark Duggan. Tonight’s game will be Harps’ second on home soil in 72 hours following a 2-0 defeat to Bohemians on Tuesday night.

A 3-1 win over Cobh at the end of May has been their only League win since late March and the Donegal side have been plagued by injury throughout. Tonight sees manager Paul Hegarty having further headaches on that front.

As well as his suspended trio, Hegarty must plan without defender Aaron Labonte who is pencilled on to have an operation on Monday while there are doubts over Gary Beckett, Stephen Parkhouse and Marc Mukendi.

Parkhouse is likely to play in attack while there are suggestions in the North West that Jonathan Minnock may have to play through the pain barrier out of necessity such is the length of the absent list at Finn Park.

“We’ll have a wee look and see who is available to us,” said Hegarty. I had a wee look at Bray on Friday night and they’re a decent side to be fair. They are going really well at the minute.

“We’re three points off UCD and have a chance. I don’t know what team will take to the field against Bray, but we’ll see and we’ll be ready for it.”

Wanderers kick-started their season with a win over Harps in April after getting off to a disastrous start. Last weekend, they drew with St Patrick’s Athletic, a result that kept them in the top half of the table.

Some six first-teamers will not be on the Bray team-sheet tonight, though as Eddie Gormley is without injured captain Colm Tresson and goalkeeper Chris O’Connor who is on duty with the Australian U23 Olympic squad as well as the four suspended players.

Derek Foran and ex-Harps man Ray Kenny will be given late fitness tests, both being given every chance of making the starting line-up. Goalie Alan Gough, who was stretchered off at Richmond Park last week has recovered from a facial injury and is available again.

“I was disappointed we weren't able to hold on for the three points last Friday but in the end one point wasn't too bad,” said Gormley.

“Ballybofey is a tough place to go to, I would like to have a stronger squad travelling up but this is the hand we have been dealt and we must go with it. They will be desperate for the points as they try to climb away from the bottom of the table. We will be equally focused in our attempt to get the three points on offer.”

For tonight’s game, all children will be admitted free of charge to Finn Park to mark the end of the school year.

Also tonight, Harps will hold their annual Monster Draw after the Bray Wanderers game. Top prize in the €20-a-ticket draw is a brand new Hyundai Getz and anyone with tickets is asked to leave them in the club office on Navenny Street by this evening.