There won’t be any easy games for Finn Harps in the 2017 League of Ireland Premier Division and it all kicks-off for Ollie Horgan’s outfit with a hugely difficult opener against Cork City in Ballybofey tomorrow night (kick-off 8.00). Harps survived last year after finishing ninth, but this season that won’t be good enough with three teams being automatically relegated.
The 2016 league runners-up and FAI Cup champions will go into this game as favourites to take the three points. Last season John Caufield’s men won all of their three league games against the Donegal outfit. The visitors have strengthened again ahead of this campaign. Horgan’s challenge has been to replace players like Richard Brush, Tony McNamee, Adam Hanlon, Dave Scully, Ryan Curran, Kevin McHugh and long term injury absentee Keith Cowan.
So it’s been an extremely tough few months for the boss who has brought in the likes of Danny Morrissey, Harry Doherty, Killian Cantwell, Jonny Bonner, Caolan McAleer and Ciaran O’Connor, while Barry Molloy has been persuaded to come out of retirement.
Earlier this week there was the news that former Celtic and Northern Ireland international Paddy McCourt had been added to the squad. So there has been a lot of additions in terms of attack minded players so Horgan will be looking to them to provide the threat as his charges look to defy the odds once more.
In team news Horgan has doubts over midfielders Gareth Harkin and Sean Houston both of whom have taken only a very limited part in the team’s preseason programme. A decision on the pair’s availability won’t be taken until just before the game. “We couldn’t have got a tougher start than Cork City who are a top side. John Caulfield has strengthened his squad significantly and they will definitely be in with a big shout to win the league this year. We lost three times against them last year so that shows you what we are up against” Horgan said.
The last meeting between the clubs took place in atrocious conditions as the heavens opened at Turner’s Cross back in October last year. On that occasion goals from Kevin O’Connor and Stephen Dooley were enough to give the hosts the points.
TEAM NEWS
Suspended: None
Injured: None
Doubtful: Gareth Harkin Sean Houston
RECORD AGAINST CORK CITY (All Competitions)
Monday’s game will be the 39th meeting of the two clubs, and the 20th to be played in Finn Park.
Total Games: 38 (19 in Finn Park)
Harps Wins: 4 (3 in Finn Park)
Cork Wins: 24 (14 in Finn Park)
Draws: 9 (6 in Finn Park)
Harps Goals: 22 (14 in Finn Park)
Cork Goals: 62 (22 in Finn Park)
LAST 10 GAMES v CORK CITY
10-Oct-08 Cork City 1-1 Finn Harps (Premier Division)
30-Apr-10 Finn Harps 0-0 Cork City (First Division)
23-Jul-10 Cork City 2-1 Finn Harps (First Division)
15-Oct-10 Finn Harps 1-0 Cork City (First Division)
15-Apr-11 Cork City 5-0 Finn Harps (First Division)
02-Jul-11 Finn Harps 0-2 Cork City (First Division)
30-Sep-11 Cork City 5-2 Finn Harps (First Division)
22-Apr-16 Cork City 3-1 Finn Harps (Premier Division)
19-Sept-16 Finn Harps 0-1 Cork City (Premier Division)
14-Oct-16 Cork City 2-0 Finn Harps (Premier Division)
OUR LAST MEETING WITH CORK CITY
Friday 14th October 2016 League of Ireland Premier Division
Finn Harps 0
Cork City 1, Sean Maguire 70
Cork City: Mark McNulty; Steven Beattie, Alan Bennett, Kenny Browne, Kevin O’Connor (Dave Mulcahy 71); Garry Buckley, Greg Bolger; Stephen Dooley (Colin Healy 81), Gavan Holohan (Mark O’Sullivan 54), Karl Sheppard; Sean Maguire.
Finn Harps: Ciaran Gallagher; Ethan Boyle, Damien McNulty, Josh Mailey, Ciaran Coll; Gareth Harkin; Mickey Funston (Tony McNamee 4), Barry Molloy (BJ Banda 64), Adam Hanlon; Dave Scully, Ryan Curran.
FINN HARPS REMAINING FIXTURES 2017
24-Feb, 8pm Finn Harps v Cork City, Finn Park
03-Mar, 7.45pm Bray Wanderers v Finn Harps, Carlisle Grounds
10-Mar, 8pm Finn Harps v Galway United, Finn Park
13-Mar, 7.45pm St Patrick’s Athletic v Finn Harps, Richmond Park
18-Mar, 2pm Limerick v Finn Harps, Market Field
20 /21 Mar, TBC Finn Harps v Cockhill Celtic, Finn Park
25-Mar, 7.45pm Finn Harps v Sligo Rovers, Finn Park
31-Mar, 8pm Shamrock Rovers v Finn Harps, Tallaght Stadium
07-Apr, 8pm Finn Harps v Dundalk, Finn Park
14-Apr, 7.45pm Derry City v Finn Harps, Maginn Park
21-Apr, 8pm Finn Harps v Drogheda United, Finn Park
28-Apr, 7.45pm Bohemian FC v Finn Harps, Dalymount Park
05-May, 7.45pm Cork City v Finn Harps, Turners Cross
12-May, 8pm Finn Harps v Bray Wanderers, Finn Park
19-May, 7.45pm Galway United v Finn Harps, Eamonn Deacy Park
22/23 May, 8pm Finn Harps v St Patrick’s Athletic, Finn Park
26-May, 8pm Finn Harps v Limerick, Finn Park
02-Jun, 7.45pm Sligo Rovers v Finn Harps, Showgrounds
16-Jun, 8pm Finn Harps v Shamrock Rovers, Finn Park
23-Jun, 7.45pm Dundalk v Finn Harps, Oriel Park
30-Jun, 8pm Finn Harps v Derry City, Finn Park
07-Jul, 7.45pm Drogheda United v Finn Harps, United Park
14-Jul, 8pm Finn Harps v Bohemian FC, Finn Park
21-Jul, 8pm Finn Harps v Cork City, Finn Park
28-Jul, 7.45pm Bray Wanderers v Finn Harps, Carlisle Grounds
04-Aug, 8pm Finn Harps v Galway United, Finn Park
18-Aug, 7.45pm St Patrick’s Athletic v Finn Harps, Richmond Park
02-Sep, 6.30pm Limerick v Finn Harps, Market Field
15-Sep, 8pm Finn Harps v Sligo Rovers, Finn Park
22-Sep, 8pm Shamrock Rovers v Finn Harps, Tallaght Stadium
07-Oct, 7.45pm Finn Harps v Dundalk, Finn Park
15-Oct, 2pm Derry City v Finn Harps, Maginn Park
20-Oct, 8pm Finn Harps v Drogheda United, Finn Park
27-Oct, 7.45pm Bohemian FC v Finn Harps, Dalymount Park
Finn Harps Squad Numbers 2017
Goalkeepers:
Ciaran Gallagher 1
Harry Doherty 26
Lee McCarron 21
Outfield:
Damien McNulty 2
Ciaran Coll 3
Kilian Cantwell 4
Packie Mailey 5
Gareth Harkin 6
Mickey Funston 7
Jonny Bonner 8
Danny Morrissey 9
Ciaran O’Connor 10
Caolan McAleer 11
Ciaran Kelly 12
Tommy McMonagle 14
Sean Houston 16
BJ Banda 17
Kealan McDermott 18
Barry Molloy 19
Paddy McCourt 20
Ethan Boyle 22
Gareth Doherty 23
Simon McGlynn 25
Dylan McCroary 30
Nathan Clifford 33
Shane Blaney 36
Compiled by Finn Harps Media Team. Email: fhfcmedia@gmail.com
