League Preview: Cobh Ramblers -v- Finn Harps

• Fran Reilly
• Fri, May 15 2015




COBH RAMBLERS

Stephen Henderson last week suffered his first league defeat since returning to the St. Colman's Park hotseat. Gary Delaney's 32^nd minute strike gave Wexford Youths a 1-0 victory to end a five game unbeaten run and ensured that the Rams' winless streak at Ferrycarrig Park continued.

 

It was the first time Cobh finished 90 minutes with nothing to show for it since their last meeting with upcoming opponents Finn Harps in March – in Anthony Wolfe's solitary game as caretaker following the resignation of Martin Cambridge as manager, Ramblers lost 2-0 in Ballybofey.

 

Cobh have steadily climbed off the foot of the table since Hendo's return, picking up some good results. With bottom side Waterford United looking for a similar reaction following the appointment of their new boss Roddy Collins, Henderson will be hoping that last week's defeat was just a minor blip and he will be looking for his players to bounce back against a side that hasn't lost a league game since the final day of the 2014 season.

 

 

FINN HARPS

Ollie Horgan's side had to come from ahead to beat bottom of the table Waterford United last week – having led 2-0 inside six minutes courtesy of goals from Michael Funston (a thing of beauty) and Wilfried Tago, Harps were pegged back to 2-2 in the second half and it took an 87^th minute first-goal-of-the-season-against-somebody-who-isn't-Cabinteely by Ruairi Keating to ensure victory in Finn Park.

 

“We started the game very well on Friday and could have been three up relatively early on,” Horgan told finnharps.com.

“Waterford scored what was then a little against the run of play which changed the game. From there on Waterford were excellent and put in a performance that Tommy Griffin would be very proud of. They deservedly equalised and had chances to win the game but ran out of luck at the end.”

 

Horgan will be concerned by the fact that a defence that had leaked just two goals all season has suddenly leaked three in two games, including the late, late equaliser against Cabinteely in Stradbrook the week before last. The Harps boss will be hoping they can plug the gaps for the 900km round trip to Cobh Ramblers on Saturday.

“Cobh is always a hugely difficult place to go,” Horgan told finnharps.com. “Now with Stephen Henderson taking over it will be even tougher. They have serious quality in Shane O'Connor, Kevin Mulcahy and Rob Waters added to very talented young players in Ryan Goldsmith, Stephen Kenny and Darren Murphy just to mention a few.”

 

With the Finn Park side's 100% home record on the line, Horgan has a slight headache in that Keith Cowan – an ever-present in the Harps backline this season – is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines after tearing his hamstring against the Blues last week. Packie Mailey is still some way off making his first appearance of the season, while Brian McGoary looks set to miss out again having been unavailable for the Waterford and Cabo games.

 

Referee: Paula Brady.

 

 

MATCH STATS

Finn Harps last tasted defeat in league action on the final day of the 2014 First Division season when they were beaten 2-0 by champions Longford Town at Finn Park.

 

Finn Harps and Dundalk are the only two League of Ireland sides who can boast 100% home records at this stage in the 2015 campaign. Along with these two teams, Shamrock Rovers are the only other side currently unbeaten in league action this season.

 

Both teams haven't scored against each other in the same match since August 31^st, 2013 when Cobh Ramblers beat Finn Harps 3-2 in St. Colman's Park.

Finn Harps are the team Cobh Ramblers have faced most often since returning to the League of Ireland in 2013, with Saturday being the 12^th competitive meeting of the sides in that timeframe (ten league games, including this weekend's clash, and two FAI Cup matches, one of which was a replay). Cobh have only won two of those games.

The Rams have faced off against Wexford Youths 11 times in that period (ten league games and one EA Sports Cup game).

 

 

BETTING

Cobh Ramblers 4/1; Draw 12/5; Finn Harps 4/6.

 

PREDICTION

0-1.

 

 

Cobh Ramblers

Injured: Unknown.

Doubtful: Unknown.

Suspended: None.

 

Finn Harps

Injured: Keith Cowan (torn hamstring), Brian McGoary, Packie Mailey.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.