Play-off Preview: Finn Harps -v- UCD
- Dave Donnelly
- Fri, Oct 30 2015
FINN HARPS
Finn Harps take a narrow 1-0 lead back to Ballybofey for the second leg of their First Division play-off on Friday night (kick-off 7.45pm).
Ciaran Coll's goal just 24 seconds into the first leg at the UCD Bowl has given Harps a clear advantage heading into the home leg and, having been comfortable 3-0 victors in the last meeting between the sides at Finn Park, they will be confident of cementing their advantage in front of a home crowd.
“We had a good result last Friday night but we ran our luck to get out of Belfield without conceding at least one if not a couple of goals,” manager Ollie Horgan told the club's website.
“It was a great start and one of the few times we got behind UCD's defence. But, the longer the game went on, the more UCD took control.
“We were under huge pressure in the second half. We couldn't get possession of the ball mainly due to UCD's dominance at that stage. We will need to improve on our performance to try to stop a very talented UCD side this weekend.
“With Robbie Benson back, UCD will be even more of a threat than they were the last night. This game could go all the way to extra time or even penalties.”
Kevin McHugh and Damien McNulty are doubts after picking up slight knocks in the first leg, while Nathan Boyle is definitely out, but Coll is expected to feature after limping off midway through the first half in Belfield.
UCD
Collie O'Neill's best-laid plans were torn up within seconds as a result of that early Harps goal last week, and his side struggled to impose their attacking style of play until the closing stages, and found a well-drilled Harps side more than up for the challenge.
They will now be required to score away to the club with the division's meanest defence (just eight conceded at Finn Park) all season, while barely over a third of UCD's 51 goals have come on the road, which indicates the Students will have to put in a performance to rival their Europa League exploits.
O'Neill told the club's website: “It’s going to be very difficult for us up there, and they will be everyone’s favourites going into the tie. There will be a large home crowd that will give them a huge boost and they will be really up for the game.
“Despite being up against it, if we turn up and play the way we know we can, then we are definitely capable of getting the result we need to turn it around.
“We caused them problems last week and created a number of good chances so it is important that we take them this week if we get them!”
O'Neill will be without experienced winger Chris Mulhall – who serves the last of a four-game ban for violent play – and Ireland under-19 international Dylan Watts, who picked up his fifth yellow card of the season in the first leg.
Maxi Kouogun and Jack Watson have been added to an injury list that already included Ryan McLaughlin and Greg Sloggett, while Tomas Boyle faces a fitness test, though Robbie Benson is fit after making a late appearance from the bench on Friday.
Referee: Ray Matthews.
MATCH STATS
The sides have met five times this season, including the first leg last week, with Harps holding a decisive edge having won twice in the league at Ballybofey either side of UCD's 1-0 win in July, while the first meeting at Belfield resulted in a 2-2 draw.
Harps can also take confidence from their record at Finn Park, having never lost a home play-off game in normal time (they lost to Longford Town on penalties in 2002, which is also the only occasion upon which the Donegal side have conceded a goal in those eight games.
BETTING
Finn Harps 10/11; Draw 12/5; UCD 5/2.
PREDICTION
Finn Harps 2 – 0 UCD.
Finn Harps
Injured: Nathan Boyle.
Doubtful: Kevin McHugh, Damien McNulty.
Suspended: None.
UCD
Injured: Maxi Kouogun (concussion), Ryan McLaughlin (knee), Greg Sloggett (groin), Jack Watson (broken ribs).
Doubtful: Tomás Boyle.
Suspended: Chris Mulhall, Dylan Watts.