Finn Harps
Finn Harps have a worrying injury list as they prepare to welcome Shamrock Rovers to Finn Park on Monday evening.
Injuries picked up to Sean Houston and Barry Molloy in the opening day victory over Derry City in Ballybofey were added to by left-back Ciaran Coll who was stretchered off in the latter stages of Friday night’s 3-0 loss at Champions Dundalk.
“It’s another player in the space of seven days who looks like he’ll be out long term,” said Harps boss Ollie Horgan in the aftermath of Friday’s game at Oriel Park. “Ciaran suffered an injury to his knee without anyone being around him, which is not a good sign. “We’ll see, but it’s certainly worrying, especially when no-one was around him when it happened. That’s a bad indicator.
“Ciaran is one of our most consistent, fit and better players,” continued the Harps boss. “A difficult task has got even more difficult, going along with the long-term injuries to Barry Molloy and Sean Houston.”
Horgan said in build up to Friday’s game that the fixture away to the Champions was going to be anything other than easy and that’s the way it proved to be.
“It could have been worse and it was maybe a bit flattering to us,” he said of the 3-0 scoreline. “I thought that we played relatively well. We were beaten by a far superior side. We defended well and they didn’t play through us. They scored two from corner kicks and we’re normally good at defending those. They could have scored a lot more.”
With Shamrock Rovers due to visit Finn Park on Monday, Horgan has warned that things aren’t going to get in easier.
“It is difficult and I have tried to explain that,” he said. “People don’t want to listen to me when I say that, but it is a savage League. Most of these players went to work the morning after Friday night’s game, they have work on Monday – we all have work on Monday – and then on Monday night they play Shamrock Rovers and all this minus three of our better players, who will be out long term.
“We knew what it was about and I just hope that people realise that they need to be very patient with us and support us through thick and thin – because it most certainly will be that,” he warned.
Shamrock Rovers have started the season with maximum points from their opening two games. An opening day 2-0 victory was achieved against Sligo Rovers at the Showgrounds and this was followed up by a similar margin against Wexford Youths in Tallaght on Friday night.
Harps haven’t played against Rovers since the final game of the 2008 Premier Division season. Despite a 2-0 victory over the Hoops at Finn Park ,it wasn’t enough to keep Harps in the top flight.
Harps were undefeated against Rovers that season – winning two and drawing one of the three fixtures between the sides.
Harps did, of course, play against Rovers ‘A’ side when they played in the First Division a couple of seasons ago.
TEAM NEWS
Suspended: None.
Doubtful: None.
Injured: Barry Molloy, Sean Houston, Ciaran Coll.
RECORD AGAINST SHAMROCK ROVERS (All Competitions)
Monday’s game will be the 67th meeting of the two clubs, and the 35th to be played in Finn Park.
Total Games: 66 (34 at Finn Park)
Harps Wins: 20 (13 at Finn Park)
Rovers Wins: 30 (9 at Finn Park)
Draws: 16 (12 at Finn Park)
Harps Goals: 95 (54 at Finn Park)
Rovers Goals: 113 (41 at Finn Park)
LAST 10 GAMES v SHAMROCK ROVERS
02-Apr-05 Finn Harps 1-1 Shamrock Rovers (Premier Division)
24-Jun-05 Shamrock Rovers 1-4 Finn Harps (Premier Division)
17-Sep-05 Finn Harps 3-0 Shamrock Rovers (Premier Division)
29-Apr-06 Finn Harps 0-0 Shamrock Rovers (First Division)
11-Jul-06 Shamrock Rovers 2-0 Finn Harps (First Division)
12-Sep-06 Finn Harps 1-0 Shamrock Rovers (First Division)
10-Nov-06 Shamrock Rovers 4-0 Finn Harps (First Division)
16-May-08 Finn Harps 1-1 Shamrock Rovers (Premier Division)
08-Aug-08 Shamrock Rovers 0-2 Finn Harps (Premier Division)
14-Nov-08 Finn Harps 2-0 Shamrock Rovers (Premier Division)
