After a week’s break due to the FAI Cup taking place last weekend, Finn Harps return to action at Fahy’s Field on Friday night when they take on Mervue United at the Galway venue (kick-off 7.45pm).
“It’s a potential banana skin,” said Finn Harps boss, Peter Hutton, ahead of the trip to Galway.
“The last time we went down to Mervue they thoroughly beat us. It was actually a very embarrassing performance if anything. They comfortably beat us. They have a few fresh faces in now since the transfer window and they also have a couple of lads back from long-term injuries so they’re going to be a difficult side. I think they’re in a false position given the quality they have in their team.”
Hutton will be hoping his side can build on their unbeaten run, which was extended to seven games with a 1-1 draw against Limerick two weeks ago.
“It was a good, battling performance and in fairness I think we played all the football,” said Hutton in the wake of the Limerick draw. “It was at least what we deserved (the draw). I think the goal they got was very fortuitous. Never mind even the deflection, I felt the free-kick leading up to that wasn’t a free-kick at all. Tommy McMonagle jumped for the header early, won the header and your man just leaned into him.”
Hutton will have to plan without the suspended trio of Thomas McBride, Kevin McHugh and Aaron O’Hagan. Gary Merritt, Tommy Bonner and Paul McVeigh are all doubts, while Michael Funston remain sidelined.
Harps have lost all of their last four visits to Mervue, including a 3-0 reversal at Fahy’s Field at the end of April.
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TEAM NEWS
Suspended: Thomas McBride (8th of 8 games), Kevin McHugh (1 game), Aaron O’Hagan (1 game).
Doubtful: Gary Merritt (groin), Tommy Bonner (groin), Paul McVeigh (hamstring).
Injured: Michael Funston (ankle), Stephen O’Donnell (cruciate), Hugh Carlin (cruciate), Blain Curtis (cruciate).
Form Guide (last six league games)
Finn Harps: D-D-D-W-W-D (10 pts)
Mervue United: L-W-W-L-L-L (6 pts)
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Last six away games against Mervue United
11/09/2009 – Mervue United 0-1 Finn Harps (First Division)
07/08/2010 – Mervue United 1-3 Finn Harps (First Division)
28/03/2011 – Mervue United 1-0 Finn Harps (League Cup)
13/05/2011 – Mervue United 2-1 Finn Harps (First Division)
29/10/2011 – Mervue United 1-0 Finn Harps (First Division)
27/04/2012 – Mervue United 3-0 Finn Harps (First Division)
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Finn Harps Goalscorers 2012
Kevin McHugh – 10 (1 in League Cup)
Adam Clarke – 4
Thomas McBride – 3
Paul McVeigh – 3
Blain Curtis – 2
Ciaran Coll – 2
Paul Simon Tracey – 2
Thomas McMonagle – 2
Matt Harkin – 2
Thomas Bonner – 1
Aaron O’Hagan – 1
Shaun McGowan – 1
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Finn Harps Results 2012 (Harps goalscorers in brackets)
18/08/2012 – (FD) Finn Harps 1-1 Limerick (McVeigh)
11/08/2012 – (FD) Longford Town 0-1 Finn Harps (McHugh)
03/08/2012 – (FD) Finn Harps 2-0 SD Galway (McHugh 2)
27/07/2012 – (FD) Waterford United 1-1 Finn Harps (Harkin)
21/07/2012 – (FD) Finn Harps 3-3 Wexford Youths (McMonagle, McHugh, McGowan)
13/07/2012 – (FD) Athlone Town 1-1 Finn Harps (O’Hagan)
07/07/2012 – (FD) Finn Harps 3-2 Mervue United (McHugh, McVeigh 2)
29/06/2012 – (FD) Limerick 3-0 Finn Harps
22/06/2012 – (FD) Finn Harps 1-3 Longford Town (Harkin)
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)
