FOOTBALL: Finn Harps make the trip to the Carlisle Grounds on this Saturday evening looking to extend their recent unbeaten run to five games in the League of Ireland Premier Division with a victory over Bray Wanderers (kick-off 7.30).
It’s the result manager Ollie Horgan is hoping for at the Co. Wicklow venue and would be another significant step in Harps bid to secure top flight status for next season.
Back in mid-April when the two sides met in Ballybofey it was the hosts who were most fortunate to hold on for a 1-0 win courtesy of an early Dave Scully goal.
In team news Horgan will again be minus vice-captain Ciaran Coll (shoulder) and Gareth Harkin (knee) who are on the long term injury list.
Packie Mailey, who has missed the last two matches against Longford Town and Galway United is rated very doubtful by the manager while Adam Hanlon, Josh Mailey and Dave Scully are also carrying knocks.
On the plus side Ethan Boyle is back in the squad after a one match-ban while fans will be keeping an eye to whether new signing Ruairi Keating is included in the starting 11.
Despite being ten points ahead of Bray, Horgan is not underestimating the challenge that faces his team at the Carlisle Grounds.
Horgan insists that the Wicklow outfit has got stronger having added to their squad during the mid-season break.
Bray drew with Bohemians on Friday night while Harps secured a very important three points with the 1-0 win over Galway United in Ballybofey.
“Bray are on a great run at moment and haven’t conceded in their last four games, including very difficult away trips to Sligo and Bohemians. They have real quality in their team and have added further quality in the last couple of weeks. They played great football against us in Ballybofey earlier in season and have improved again since” Horgan said.
The Donegal side has now gone four games unbeaten including three successive wins. Based on that form Harps are well capable of taking all three points home on Saturday night but Horgan wouldn’t be too disappointed with a draw either.
Victory would put Harps 13 points ahead of Bray who are currently third from bottom of the Premier table. After this weekend Horgan’s outfit will have 14 league fixtures left to play but their home game against Cork City scheduled for next Friday night has been put back due to the Leesiders European commitments.
Team News
Suspended: None.
Doubtful: Packie Mailey, Adam Hanlon, Josh Mailey and Dave Scully
Injured: Ciaran Coll, Gareth Harkin.
RECORD AGAINST BRAY WANDERERS (All Competitions)
Saturday’s game will be the 56th meeting of the two clubs, and the 28th to be played at the Carlisle Grounds.
Total Games: 55 (27 in Bray)
Harps Wins: 19 (8 in Bray)
Bray Wins: 18 (8 in Bray)
Draws: 18 (11 in Bray)
Harps Goals: 60 (27 in Bray)
Bray Goals: 58 (29 in Bray)
LAST 10 GAMES v BRAY WANDERERS
30-Apr-04 Finn Harps 0-1 Bray Wanderers (First Division)
16-Jul-04 Bray Wanderers 0-0 Finn Harps (First Division)
23-Oct-04 Finn Harps 2-0 Bray Wanderers (First Division)
28-May-05 Finn Harps 1-2 Bray Wanderers (Premier Division)
19-Aug-05 Bray Wanderers 2-1 Finn Harps (Premier Division)
18-Nov-05 Finn Harps 2-4 Bray Wanderers (Premier Division)
04-Apr-08 Bray Wanderers 1-0 Finn Harps (Premier Division)
27-Jun-08 Finn Harps 1-0 Bray Wanderers (Premier Division)
26-Sep-08 Bray Wanderers 0-1 Finn Harps (Premier Division)
15-Apr-16 Finn Harps 1-0 Bray Wanderers (Premier Division)
OUR LAST MEETING WITH BRAY WANDERERS
Friday 15th April 2016. Finn Park. League of Ireland Premier Division.
FINN HARPS 1-0 Bray Wanderers Dave Scully (9 mins).
Finn Harps – Richard Brush; Damien McNulty, Packie Mailey, Keith Cowan, Ciaran Coll; Adam Hanlon (Raymond Foy 67 mins), Gareth Harkin (Mattie Crossan 87 mins) Sean Houston, Tony McNamee; Ryan Curran, Dave Scully (Michael Funston 80 mins). Not used: Kevin McHugh, Liam Flatley, Ryan McConnell, Ciaran Gallagher (Gk).
Bray Wanderers – Peter Cherrie; Hugh Douglas, Paul Finnegan (Alan Byrne 35, Jason Marks half-time), Conor Kenna, Sean Harding; Dylan Connolly (Gareth McDonagh 77), Robbie Creevy, Ryan Brennan, Karl Moore; Andrew Lewis, Ger Pender.
FINN HARPS GOALSCORERS 2016
Ryan Curran – 6
Sean Houston – 4
David Scully – 3
Kevin McHugh – 1
Damien McNulty – 1
Josh Mailey – 1
Tony McNamee – 1
Ethan Boyle – 1 (in League Cup)
FINN HARPS RESULTS 2016
Fri 04-Mar Finn Harps 2-1 Derry City
Fri 11-Mar Dundalk 3–0 Finn Harps
Mon 14-Mar Finn Harps 0-1 Shamrock Rovers
Sat 19-Mar Sligo Rovers 1-1 Finn Harps
Tue 22-Mar Finn Harps 1-0 Cockhill Celtic (League Cup)
Sat 26-Mar Finn Harps 1-0 Longford Town
Fri 08-Apr Galway United 1-0 Finn Harps
Mon 11-Apr Finn Harps 1-2 St. Patrick’s Athletic
Fri 15-Apr Finn Harps 1-0 Bray Wanderers
Mon 18-Apr Galway United 0-0 Finn Harps (League Cup) – Galway won 4-2 on pens.
Fri 22-Apr Cork City 3-1 Finn Harps
Fri 29-Apr Wexford Youths 1-1 Finn Harps
Fri 06-May Finn Harps 0-0 Bohemians
Tue 10-May Derry City 2–2 Finn Harps
Fri 13-May Finn Harps 0-7 Dundalk
Tue 20-May St. Patrick’s Athletic 4-0 Finn Harps
Sat 21 May Finn Harps 0-1 Crumlin United (FAI Cup)
Sun 29-May Shamrock Rovers 1-1 Finn Harps
Fri 3-Jun Finn Harps 3-0 Sligo Rovers
Fri 24-Jun Longford 0-2 Finn Harps
Fri 8-Jul Finn Harps 1-0 Galway United
FINN HARPS REMAINING FIXTURES 2016
Sat 16-Jul Bray Wanderers (a)
Fri 22-Jul Cork City (h)
Fri 29-Jul Wexford Youths (h)
Fri 05-Aug Bohemians (a)
Fri 12-Aug Derry City (h)
Mon 15-Aug Dundalk (a)
Fri 26-Aug Shamrock Rovers (h)
Fri 03-Sep Sligo Rovers (a)
Sat 16-Sep Longford Town (h)
Fri 23-Sep St. Patrick’s Athletic (h)
Fri 30-Sep Galway United (a)
Fri 07-Oct Bray Wanderers (h)
Fri 14-Oct Cork City (a)
Fri 21-Oct Wexford Youths (a)
Fri 28-Oct Bohemians (h)
