After suffering a first defeat of the season last weekend, Finn Harps will be looking to get back to winning ways again when Wexford Youths visit Finn Park on Friday evening (kick-off 8.00pm).
Harps striker Ruairi Keating returns to the panel for tomorrow night’s game against Wexford Youths. Pic by Gary Foy.
Shane Keegan’s Youths will provide a stiff test for Harps and come into the game having beaten Waterford United and Shamrock Rovers in their last two games to jump above Harps into second place.
“We have a huge game ahead against Wexford this weekend,” said Harps boss Ollie Horgan who watched his team lose for the first time since taking the hot-seat at Finn Park prior to the start of the season.
“They have won their last two games and are ahead of us in the table. Wexford are considered to be the fittest and biggest side in our Division and excellently organised. This is the best squad that they have assembled and will take some beating.
“They have added the talents of Ben Ryan from Waterford and especially Danny Furlong from Cork City who scored three goals last weekend.
“Then you can throw in the likes of Aiden Keenan, Shane Nolan and Dean Broaders and you can see that this will be a massive test for us in a number of areas.”
Although defeated for the first time last weekend on a 2-0 scoreline at Tolka Park, Horgan was pleased with the attitude and dedication of his charges.
“We showed great commitment in Shelbourne but came up short, however, not for lack of effort,” said Horgan. “We had several chances from set pieces including a penalty but little from open play except for half chances at the edge of box. We limited them to few chances also obviously except the free kick and penalty that they scored from.”
Harps had to play the game without a recognised striker with Kevin McHugh, Sean McCarron and Ruairi Keating all missing.
“The three forwards out wasn’t a help but at same time it wasn’t an excuse,” continued Horgan. “We still had enough chances to get something out of game. Shelbourne took their chances and we have no complaint on the result as such.
“The penalty miss was of course disappointing but not a turning point,” said Horgan of the spot-kick effort by Michael Funston which the Harps player saw saved. “In fact we had much of the play after this miss in the second half but couldn’t convert into goals.”
Kevin McHugh and Sean McCarron remain out for Friday’s visit of Wexford Youths while Josh Mailey is suspended. Packie Mailey is a doubt having picked up a knock during last Friday’s game at Tolka Park. Ruairi Keating returns though after missing the trip to Shelbourne through suspension.
The teams met on five occasions last season with little to separate them. Harps won twice as did Wexford, while one game finished in a draw.
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TEAM NEWS
Suspended: Josh Mailey.
Doubtful: Packie Mailey.
Injured: Kevin McHugh (hamstring), Sean McCarron (fractured cheek).
Form Guide (last six league games)
Finn Harps: D-D-W-W-D-L (9 pts)
Wexford Youths: L-L-W-L-W-W (9 pts)
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Last six away games v Shelbourne
22-Oct-11 Finn Harps 4-1 Wexford Youths (First Division)
24-Mar-12 Finn Harps 0-1 Wexford Youths (First Division)
21-Jul-12 Finn Harps 3-3 Wexford Youths (First Division)
05-Apr-13 Finn Harps 0-0 Wexford Youths (First Division)
31-May-13 Finn Harps 2-1 Wexford Youths (FAI Cup)
26-Jul-13 Finn Harps 1-0 Wexford Youths (First Division)
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Finn Harps Goalscorers 2014
Pat McCann – 3
Ruairi Keating – 2 (1 in League Cup)
Keith Cowan – 1
James Doherty – 1
Michael Funston – 1
Paul McVeigh – 1
Carel Tiofack – 1
Sean McCarron – 1 (in League Cup)
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Finn Harps Results 2014 (Finn Harps scorers in brackets)
04-Apr-2014 – Lg – Shelbourne 2-0 Finn Harps
29-Mar-2014 – Lg – Finn Harps 1-1 Galway FC (McVeigh)
21-Mar-2014 – Lg – Finn Harps 5-0 Cobh Ramblers (Doherty, Tiofack, McCann 2, Keating)
16-Mar-2014 – Lg – Shamrock Rovers B 0-3 Finn Harps (Cowan, Funston, McCann)
10-Mar-2014 – LC – Finn Harps 3-2 Cockhill Celtic (McCarron, O’Donnell o.g., Keating)
07-Mar-2014 – Lg – Finn Harps 0-0 Waterford United
Lg = SSE Airtricity League, First Division. LC = EA Sports League Cup
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