When Harps beat Longford Town 3-1 at Flancare Park earlier this season, little did anyone think that they would lose their next six league games and also get dumped out of the FAI Cup – but that’s exactly what happened.
Reflecting on that earlier season game at Flancare Park, Harps boss Peter Hutton said that “the players showed a lot of character in the manner in which they came back from a goal down.
It showed what the players are capable of but unfortunately we just haven’t maintained that level of performance.
“We went on a terrible run after that game”, he said, “and we started to pat ourselves on the back. But we’ve had the wee break now and we’re re-charged and ready to go again.”
Prior to the break, Harps finally ended that seven game losing streak by hammering SD Galway at Terryland Park on a 5-1 scoreline. However, Hutton knows Friday’s visit of Longford to Finn Park will be a different ball game.
“They could be smarting from our win against them down there so they’ll be coming up looking to put right that result”, said Hutton. “It will be a tough test, no questions. They’re not league leaders for nothing.
“They’ve shown a good level of consistency and they have plenty of League of Ireland experience to draw on so that’s been a big help for them as well. But all we can do is concentrate on our own game and certainly the boys are looking to carry on from the good performance we had against Salthill.”
On the team front, Shane McGinty returns while Keith Cowan is still a few weeks away from full fitness. Adam Clarke is unavailable while Kevin McHugh serves the last of a four game suspension. New signings Michael Funston and Mark Scoltock can’t play until 1st July.
Although Harps recorded victory at Flancare Park earlier this season, the midlands men won on all three visits to Finn Park last season – twice in the league and once in the FAI Cup.
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TEAM NEWS
Suspended: Kevin McHugh.
Unavailable: Adam Clarke
Doubtful: None.
Injured: Keith Cowan (double hairline fracture ankle), Stephen O’Donnell (cruciate), Hugh Carlin (cruciate), Blain Curtis (cruciate).
Form Guide (last six league games)
Finn Harps: L-L-L-L-L-W (3 pts)
Longford Town: W-W-W-W-W-L (15 pts)
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Last six home games against Longford Town
14/03/2009 – Finn Harps 1-0 Longford Town (First Division)
04/09/2009 – Finn Harps 1-0 Longford Town (First Division)
14/05/2010 – Finn Harps 2-0 Longford Town (First Division)
22/04/2011 – Finn Harps 1-2 Longford Town (First Division)
06/06/2011 – Finn Harps 0-1 Longford Town (FAI Cup)
08/10/2011 – Finn Harps 1-2 Longford Town (First Division)
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Finn Harps Goalscorers 2012
Kevin McHugh – 5 (1 in League Cup)
Adam Clarke – 4
Thomas McBride – 3
Blain Curtis – 2
Ciaran Coll – 2
Paul Simon Tracey – 2
Thomas McMonagle – 1
Thomas Bonner – 1
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Finn Harps Results 2012 (Harps goalscorers in brackets)
30/05/2012 – (FD) Salthill Devon 1-5 Finn Harps (Bonner, McBride 2, Coll 2)
23/05/2012 – (FC) Derry City 4-0 Finn Harps
18/05/2012 – (FD) Finn Harps 0-1 Waterford United
11/05/2012 – (FD) Wexford Youths 3-0 Finn Harps
05/05/2012 – (FD) Finn Harps 1-2 Athlone Town (McHugh)
27/04/2012 – (FD) Mervue United 3-0 Finn Harps
21/04/2012 – (FD) Finn Harps 1-3 Limerick (Clarke)
14/04/2012 – (FD) Longford Town 1-3 Finn Harps (Tracey, McBride, Curtis)
09/04/2012 – (LC) Derry City 4-0 Finn Harps
06/04/2012 – (FD) Finn Harps 3-0 Salthill Devon (Clarke, McHugh, Curtis)
31/03/2012 – (FD) Waterford United 0-2 Finn Harps (Tracey, Waterford o.g.)
26/03/2012 – (LC) Finn Harps 2-0 Mayo League (Mayo o.g., McHugh)
24/03/2012 – (FD) Finn Harps 0-1 Wexford Youths
16/03/2012 – (FD) Athlone Town 2-0 Finn Harps
10/03/2012 – (FD) Finn Harps 4-3 Mervue United (Clarke, McHugh 2, McMonagle)
02/03/2012 – (FD) Limerick 2-1 Finn Harps (Clarke)
FD = First Division; LC = League Cup; FC = FAI Cup
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