Finn Harps will put a five game unbeaten run on the line when they host Longford Town at Finn Park on Friday evening (kick-off 8.00pm).
And although his team will go into the match with the confidence of that unbeaten run, Harps boss Ollie Horgan knows that Friday’s game provides a difficult challenge for his side.
“Longford is a big game on Friday,” said Horgan. “They are in good form and come into the game with confidence having beaten Athlone Town comfortably in the Cup last weekend.
“I still feel that they have the strongest squad in our Division and it will take a much better performance from us than we gave against Belgrove last weekend to get anything out of it,” he continued.
That game against Belgrove/Home Farm last Friday saw Harps overcome a potential banana skin to progress to the third round of the FAI Ford Cup. But the 1-0 victory against the ten men from the Dublin side was anything but comfortable.
“It wasn’t a great performance against Belgrove”, said Horgan. “We found it difficult to break them down even when they were reduced to ten men.
“It was a reversal of previous weeks when we were a man down and sat deep but at least we got through the game – just about.
“It is good to be still involved in the Cup, but the next round isn’t until late August so we will see what the draw brings up before we start thinking about it again.
“It is always difficult to play any side in the Cup – especially away from home. I have been in Belgrove’s situation in previous years trying to beat League sides and knew that we would have nothing easy. We got through it at least although the performance left a lot to be desired.”
Horgan will be able to welcome back Josh Mailey and Michael Funston from suspension, but Tommy Bonner is banned due to his red card in Wexford a fortnight ago. Shaun Patton should also be available again but Sean McCarron remains out with a broken ankle while Johnny Bonner and Paul McVeigh are doubts.
Although Harps haven’t beaten Longford in any of their last three meetings – two of which were defeats at the City Calling Stadium – Longford don’t have a great recent record in Finn Park. In their last three visits to Ballybofey, Longford have failed to score in any of the games and have left twice on the wrong end of a 1-0 defeat.