Finn Harps manager Ollie Horgan has the very difficult task of getting his team focused on a huge northwest derby against Sligo Rovers in Ballybofey this Saturday evening (kick-off 7.45). Harps are looking for their first home win of the new season. But the game comes at the end of a difficult week for League of Ireland football following the sudden and sad passing of Derry City captain Ryan McBride.
A number of the current Harps squad formerly played with Ryan during their time at Derry, while current Harps assistant-boss Paul Hegarty was also involved in team management at the Brandywell as McBride’s career developed. So it has been an especially difficult time for them all.
Harps will definitely be minus Ethan Boyle who has been called up to the Republic of Ireland squad for this Saturday’s UEFA U21 Championships Qualifying Round Group 5 fixture against Kosovo at the Tallaght Stadium (kick-off 1:00). Horgan also has concerns over the fitness of veteran midfielder Barry Molloy and striker Ciaran O’Connor.
The hosts have taken four points from the two away games against St. Pat’s and Limerick in the past week so the aim is to keep that run going and secure a first home win of the new campaign.
The Harps boss watched Sligo defeat Bray Wanderers at the Showgrounds last Saturday night. He was especially impressed with striker Kieran Sadlier. “People were talking about Sligo’s poor start to the season until last Saturday night at the Showgrounds when they had an excellent win over Bray Wanderers, who had been going well. Last season Sligo finished something like 20 points above us in the table, so they are a quality side with the likes of Kieran Sadlier and Raphael Cretaro there. Kieran Sadlier was outstanding against Bray. Dave Robertson has also added to his squad by signing the two Donegal lads Kyle McFadden and Sean Patton. We have only got a point at home this season so that has to change very quickly if we are going to stay in the Premier Division. We will have to be at our very best to win because Sligo will be coming to Finn Park full of confidence after the relief of getting that first three points last Saturday night.”
PLEASE NOTE: Supporters are asked to buy their tickets in advance to avoid queuing on the night and also to note the earlier than normal kick off time. Tickets available from: Michael Murphy Sports, Letterkenny, Balor Theatre, Ballybofey, Kernans, Newtown, The Coachhouse, Donegal Town, McCauley’s Restaurant, Lifford, Macs Newsagents, Buncrana.
TEAM NEWS
Suspended: none
Injured: none
Doubtful: Ciaran O’Connor, Barry Molloy
Unavailable: Ethan Boyle (international U21 duty)
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RECORD AGAINST SLIGO ROVERS (All Competitions)
Saturday’s game will be the 115th meeting of the two clubs
Total Games: 114 (60 at Finn Park)
Harps Wins: 46 (20 at Finn Park)
Rovers Wins: 38 (20 at Finn Park)
Draws: 30 (13 at Finn Park)
Harps Goals: 182 (102 at Finn Park)
Rovers Goals: 160 (78 at Finn Park)
LAST 10 GAMES v SLIGO ROVERS
09-May-06 Sligo Rovers 1-1 Finn Harps (League Cup)
07-May-07 Finn Harps 3-2 Sligo Rovers (League Cup)
25-Apr-08 Finn Harps 0-1 Sligo Rovers (Premier Division)
19-Jul-08 Sligo Rovers 4-1 Finn Harps (Premier Division)
17-Oct-08 Finn Harps 0-2 Sligo Rovers (Premier Division)
04-May-09 Sligo Rovers 4-1 Finn Harps (League Cup)
27-Aug-10 Finn Harps 0-1 Sligo Rovers (FAI Cup)
20-Mar-16 Sligo Rovers 1-1 Finn Harps (Premier Division)
03-Jun-16 Finn Harps 3-0 Sligo Rovers (Premier Division)
04-Oct-16 Sligo Rovers 0-0 Finn Harps (Premier Division)
OUR LAST MEETING WITH SLIGO ROVERS
4th October 2016. Showgrounds. SSE Airtricity Premier Division.
SLIGO ROVERS 0
FINN HARPS 0
Sligo Rovers – Ciaran Nugent; Tobi Adebayo-Rowling, Craig Roddan, John Russell, Jimmy Keohane; Daniel Kearns (Kieran Sadlier 65), Gary Boylan, Raffaele Cretaro, Pat McCann; Liam Martin; Achille Campion.
Finn Harps – Richard Brush; Damien McNulty, Packie Mailey, Keith Cowan, Ethan Boyle; Michael Funston, Sean Houston, Barry Molloy, Gareth Harkin, Adam Hanlon (Tony McNamee 72); Ruairi Keating (Ryan Curran 25). Not used: Ciaran Gallagher (Gk), B.J. Banda, Mark Coyle, Kevin McHugh.
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FINN HARPS GOALSCORERS 2017 (All competitions)
Ciaran O’Connor – 3
Sean Houston – 3
Ethan Boyle – 1
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FINN HARPS RESULTS 2017
Fri 24-Feb Finn Harps 0-1 Derry City
Fri 03-Mar Bray Wanderers 5–3 Finn Harps
Fri 10-Mar Finn Harps 1-1 Galway Utd
Mon 13-Mar St. Patrick’s Athletic 1-2 Finn Harps
Sat 18-Mar Limerick 1-1 Finn Harps
FINN HARPS REMAINING FIXTURES 2017
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 Bohemians 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
Compiled by Finn Harps Media Team, fhfcmedia@gmail.com
