Finn Harps will have to face reigning League of Ireland Premier Division champions Dundalk in Ballybofey on Friday (kick-off 8.00) almost certainly without strikers Ciaran O”Connor and Danny Morrissey as well as defender Damian McNulty. Horgan also has a doubt over Gareth Harkin, who had to be replaced at half-time in the Cockhill Celtic game on Monday due to a groin problem while Barry Molloy is still struggling with a calf injury. Stephen Kenny’s side will come to Ballybofey to win and will be raging hot favourites to make that happen.
So it’s going to be a daunting task for Ollie Horgan’s side to get even a point from this fixture bearing in mind that Harps lost all three league games against Dundalk last season, conceding 12 goals and scoring none. That is the scale of the challenge facing the Donegal outfit. It will be interesting to see whether Horgan’s outfit can continue a record that has seen them score in all seven league matches to date in this campaign. Kenny’s men are second in the table seven points ahead of Harps.
“We have massive respect for Dundalk and what they have achieved in the last few years. Stephen Kenny will be settling for nothing less than a win at Finn Park with the hope that they can close the gap on Cork City. We will have to produce some performance to get a result against them. We’re not helped by the hamstring injuries to Ciaran O’Connor, Danny Morrissey and Damian McNulty. At this stage I can’t see any of them featuring in this game. Gareth Harkin is also in bother with a groin problem and while Barry Molloy played a part of the game against Cockhill he is still struggling with a calf strain. So it’s likely to be an opportunity for other lads to come in and show what they can do against a top side like Dundalk. That’s what the squad is there for and we have prepared as best we can this week after the cup game that we played against Cockhill on Monday night” Horgan said.
Meanwhile, due to limited capacity, Finn Harps have received an allocation of 200 tickets for away supporters for SSE Airtricity Premier Division Game at Maginn Park on Friday April 14, against Derry City. As this number will not nearly satisfy demand from Harps supporters, preference will have to be given to volunteers and season ticket holders, who can purchase one ticket each subject to availability. All tickets to away end are €12 each. Unfortunately no tickets will be on general sale. Season ticket holders and volunteers can apply by emailing harpsmail@gmail.com and club the will respond early next week.
Tickets for tomorrow‘s league clash against champions Dundalk are already on sale at the usual outlets. If possible supporters are advised to buy tickets in advance from below outlets to avoid queuing, tickets are available at the following outlets: Michael Murphy Sports, Letterkenny, Balor Theatre, Ballybofey, Kernans, Newtown, The Coachhouse, Donegal Town, McCauley’s Restaurant, Lifford, Macs Newsagents, Buncrana.
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TEAM NEWS
Suspended: None
Doubtful: Gareth Harkin, Barry Molloy, Damien McNulty, Danny Morrissey, Ciaran O’Connor
Injured:
Unavailable:
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RECORD AGAINST DUNDALK (All Competitions)
Monday night’s game will be the 78th meeting of the two clubs and the 42nd to be played at Oriel Park.
Total Games: 77 (35 at Finn Park)
Harps Wins: 29 (16 at Finn Park)
Dundalk Wins: 28 (11 at Finn Park)
Draws: 20 (8 at Finn Park)
Harps Goals: 104 (52 at Finn Park)
Dundalk Goals: 107 (43 at Finn Park)
LAST 10 GAMES v DUNDALK
15-Sep-06 Dundalk 1-1 Finn Harps – First Division
19-Nov-06 Finn Harps 0-1 Dundalk – First Division
08-Mar-07 Dundalk 3-2 Finn Harps – First Division
11-May-07 Finn Harps 0-0 Dundalk – First Division
12-Jul-07 Dundalk 1-1 Finn Harps – First Division
14-Sep-07 Finn Harps 1-0 Dundalk – First Division
16-Nov-07 Finn Harps 2-0 Dundalk – Promotion/Relegation Play-Off
11-Mar-16 Dundalk 3-0 Finn Harps – Premier Division
13-May-16 Finn Harps 0-7 Dundalk – Premier Division
12-Sep-16 Dundalk 2-0 Finn Harps – Premier Division
OUR LAST MEETING WITH DUNDALK
12th September 2016. Finn Park. League of Ireland Premier Division.
DUNDALK 2 Patrick McEleney (6), Daryl Horgan (75)
FINN HARPS 0
Dundalk – Gary Rogers; Sean Gannon, Andy Boyle, Paddy Barrett, Dane Massey; Chris Shields, Robbie Benson; John Mountney (Ronan Finn 78), Patrick McEleney (Dean Shiels 77), Daryl Horgan; David McMillan (Ciaran Kilduff 82).
Finn Harps – Ciaran Gallagher; Josh Mailey, Packie Mailey, Keith Cowan, Tommy McMonagle, Ciaran Coll; Tony McNamee (Mark Coyle 77 mins), Gareth Harkin, Ryan Curran, Mickey Funston (BJ Banda 85); Ruairi Keating (David Scully 52). Not used: Kevin McHugh, Richard Brush (Gk).
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FINN HARPS GOALSCORERS 2017 (All competitions)
Ciaran O’Connor – 4
Sean Houston – 4 (1 EA Sports Cup)
Jonny Bonner – 2 (2 EA Sports Cup)
Ethan Boyle – 1
Kilian Cantwell – 1
Caolan McAleer – 1
Paddy McCourt – 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
Sat 25-Mar Finn Harps 2-1 Sligo Rovers
Fri 31-Mar Shamrock Rovers 3-2 Finn Harps
Mon 03-Apr Finn Harps 3-1 Cockhill Celtic (EA Sports Cup)
FINN HARPS REMAINING FIXTURES 2017
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
