OLLIE HORGAN claims that Finn Harps will be underdogs for the forthcoming promotion-relegation play-off.
Harps will face either Drogheda United or Cabinteely in two-legged play-off joust at the start of November.
UCD are six points behind Harps with two games remaining, but Harps have a superior goal difference by 17, meaning Horgan and co can now plot for a play-off.
Harps came up from the First Division via a play-off win over Limerick last year and Horgan also had play-off joy in 2015, also against Limerick.
However, Horgan insists that the First Division side will be spurred by confidence.
“It’s a very difficult ask for the Premier Division side,” Horgan said.
“We know what it’s like coming into it not losing games from the First Division.
“We know we’ll be under serious pressure. We will be the underdogs going into it.
“They will be full of confidence, whoever gets through the play-off.
“Having struggled and huffed and puffed in the Premier Division, it’s a huge challenge.
“To survive would probably be the best achievement possible if we were able to do it. And that’s a massive if.”
History isn’t kind to Premier Division sides of late. Only Bray (2010 and 2013), Dundalk (2012) have tasted victory as a Premier Division team in play-offs since 2009.
Horgan said: “They’ll be coming in on a roll and it’s hard to beat confidence. In itself it’s an achievement to get into the play-off. Now we have to get ourselves right for it and that’s a bigger challenge again.”
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