League Preview: Finn Harps -v- Shelbourne
- Josh Dolan
- Thu, Apr 23 2015
FINN HARPS
Finn Harps will be looking to extend their unbeaten start to the season, as they welcome Kevin Doherty's underperforming Shelbourne side to Finn Park on Friday night.
The game marks the beginning of the second round of fixtures. When these sides met on the opening night of the season at Tolka Park, the game finished in a tight 0-0 draw. Finn Harps boss Ollie Horgan is expecting another tough test this Friday night.
“Shelbourne will be a very difficult game on Friday next,” Horgan said ahead of Friday night's tie.
“They (Shelbourne) caused us huge problems in the first game at Tolka Park, creating numerous one-on-one chances and we were lucky to get out of there with a point,” he furthered.
Despite Harps' almost perfect start to the season, Horgan is refusing to get carried away.
“Of course we are happy to have made a decent start but we have had a little luck along the way and need that to continue,” Horgan admitted.
“Every game so far that we have played could have gone in either direction.
"There isn't a huge difference between any of the eight sides with any team capable of beating the other on a given day,” the Harps boss concluded.
Harps will be without Packie Mailey for the game, as the defender continues to recover from injury; Wilfried Tagbo will miss out through suspension after being sent-off away at Wexford Youths last weekend; while both Ruairi Keating and Damien McNulty are doubts for the tie.
SHELBOURNE
Shels will be looking to put an end to their recent run of four games without a win, as they face a long trip North to face First Division high flyers Finn Harps on Friday night.
Reds boss Kevin Doherty will be under pressure to pick up a result, particularly after last weekend's defeat away to Cobh.
"(We were) very disappointed to come away without any points from this one (the game against Cobh). We started off well enough and had a number of chances to score, but we gave away a terrible goal on 16 minutes," Doherty explained.
"We had more than enough good scoring chances during the remainder of the game, especially in the last fifteen minutes, to win the tie, but failed to capitalise," the ex-Reds defender added.
Despite Finn Harps' excellent start to the season, Shels boss Doherty remains confident of getting a positive resulting Balyboffey on Friday night.
“Obviously, Harps have had a great start to the season, especially their recent run of form, Doherty said."
"We drew with them in the first game of the season and are hopeful that we can go one better and will leave Ballybofey on Friday night with a positive result,” Doherty concluded.
There's no let up on the injury front for Shels, as Simon Dixon, Sean Heaney, Dave Ryan, Alan Kehoe, Mark Sandford and Jack Brady will all miss the trip through injury.
However Ryan Robinson will return to the squad following suspension; while Evan Osam is also expected to return after his involvement with the Irish schools team in the Centenary Shield.
Referee: Rhona Daly
MATCH STATS
Harps are unbeaten at home in all competitions this season.
Ollie Horgan's men are yet to concede a goal at Finn Park this season.
Shels are yet to register a league win outside Dublin this campaign.
BETTING
Finn Harps 7/5; Draw 11/5; Shelbourne 17/10.
PREDICTION
Finn Harps 2-1 Shelbourne
Finn Harps
Injured: Packie Mailey.
Doubtful: Ruairi Keating, Damien McNulty.
Suspended: Wilfried Tagbo.
Shelbourne
Injured: Simon Dixon, Sean Heaney, Dave Ryan, Alan Kehoe, Mark Sandford, Jack Brady.
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: None.
About Josh Dolan
Josh Dolan is one of our Dublin based reporters, who also helps out with Extratime.ie’s administration tasks.
Josh, who was recommended to us by fellow reporters, joined the site as a teenager …