Finn Harps manager Ollie Horgan is expecting a big backlash from Bray Wanderers this Friday evening at the Carlisle Grounds (kick-off 7.45) following their loss to St. Patrick’s Athletic last weekend. “Bray have beaten us twice already this season and scored eight goals in those two games. Our cause certainly wasn’t helped by a couple of decisions that clearly should have been given our way in the first game against them up at the Carlisle Grounds. Horgan said ”One of those incidents was when play was allowed to continue leading to a Bray goal in the second half when Harps goalkeeper Ciaran Gallagher lay injured on the edge of his own penalty area. Gallagher wasn’t fit to continue and was replaced by Harry Doherty for the remainder of the game.
Horgan says that Harry Kenny will have his players well prepared for the Harps visit. “The Pat’s defeat will make them very determined to get the better of us tomorrow night. Harry Kenny has done a good job there and they have top players in the likes of Aaron Greene and Gary McCabe. Bray will be trying to build a bit of momentum for that big FAI Cup home game against Cork City in a couple of weeks’ time” Horgan said.
There was little time for Horgan to dwell on the Derry City defeat as he quickly turned the players’ attention to the game against Bray Wanderers. The focus has been on getting his own side mentally and physically focused to get at least a draw against a team that have been at the upper end of the table all season.
In team news Paddy McCourt is an injury doubt for tomorrow night’s game, having missed the Derry City game due to suspension while Danny Morrissey will be an absentee again due to that hamstring problem. Barry Molloy was an unused sub on Monday night against Derry due to an ongoing ankle problem but Horgan expects the veteran midfielder to be fit for selection. Goalkeeper Harry Doherty will not be part of the traveling squad having left the club by mutual consent after Monday night’s game against Derry. Harps remain fifth from bottom of the table (24 pts) ahead of St. Pat’s (23 pts), Galway (22 pts), Sligo (22 pts) and Drogheda who have been cut slightly adrift are on 18 points. Just above them are Bohemians (26 pts) and Limerick (28 pts).
Tomorrow night’s game will be refereed by Anthony Buttimer who also took charge when the two teams met at the Carlisle Grounds in that first clash, which Harps lost 5-3.
Team News
Suspended: None
Doubtful: Paddy McCourt
Injured: Danny Morrissey
LAST 10 GAMES v BRAY WANDERERS
19-Aug-05 Bray Wanderers 2-1 Finn Harps (Premier Division)
18-Nov-05 Finn Harps 2-4 Bray Wanderers (Premier Division)
04-Apr-08 Bray Wanderers 1-0 Finn Harps (Premier Division)
27-Jun-08 Finn Harps 1-0 Bray Wanderers (Premier Division)
26-Sep-08 Bray Wanderers 0-1 Finn Harps (Premier Division)
15-Apr-16 Finn Harps 1-0 Bray Wanderers (Premier Division)
16-Jul-16 Bray Wanderers 1-0 Finn Harps (Premier Division)
07-Oct-16 Finn Harps 2-1 Bray Wanderers (Premier Division)
03-Mar-17 Bray Wanderers 5-3 Finn Harps (Premier Division)
12-May-17 Finn Harps 0-3 Bray Wanderers (Premier Division)
OUR LAST MEETING WITH BRAY WANDERERS
Friday 12th May 2017. Finn Park. League of Ireland Premier Division.
Finn Harps 0
Bray Wanderers 3 Gary McCabe (7), Ryan Brennan (40), Aaron Greene (80)
Finn Harps – Ciaran Gallagher; Ethan Boyle, Damien McNulty (Mickey Funston 78), Kilian Cantwell, Ciaran Coll; Caolan McAleer Barry Molloy, Sean Houston, Paddy McCourt (Simon McGlynn 83), Gareth Harkin (Danny Morrissey 63); Ciaran O’Connor. Not used: Gareth Doherty, Kealan McDermott, Harry Doherty (Gk)
Bray Wanderers: Peter Cherrie; Keith Buckley, Tim Clancy, Conor Kenna, Karl Moore; Ryan Brennan, Mark Salmon, John Sullivan (Anto Flood 45), Dylan Connolly; Aaron Greene, Gary McCabe (Jamie Aherne 83).
FINN HARPS GOALSCORERS 2017 (All competitions)
Ciaran O’Connor – 5
Sean Houston – 5 (1 EA Sports Cup)
Danny Morrissey – 4
Caolan McAleer – 2
Jonny Bonner – 2 (2 EA Sports Cup)
Eddie Dsane – 2
Ethan Boyle – 1
Kilian Cantwell – 1
Paddy McCourt – 1
BJ Banda – 1
Michael Funston – 1
Barry Molloy – 1
Packie Mailey – 1
FINN HARPS RESULTS 2017
Fri 24-Feb Finn Harps 0-1 Cork 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)
Fri 07-Apr Finn Harps 0-2 Dundalk
Fri 14-Apr Derry City 0-2 Finn Harps
Mon 16-Apr Finn Harps 0-1 Sligo Rovers (EA Sports Cup)
Fri 21-Apr Finn Harps 0-2 Drogheda United
Fri 28-Apr Bohemian FC 2-0 Finn Harps
Fri 5-May Cork City 5-0 Finn Harps
Fri 12-May Finn Harps 0-3 Bray Wanderers
Fri 19-May Galway United 2-1 Finn Harps
Mon 22-May Finn Harps 3-1 St. Patrick’s Athletic
Fri 26-May Finn Harps 3-2 Limerick
Fri 2-Jun Sligo Rovers 0-0 Finn Harps
Fri 16-Jun Finn Harps 0-1 Shamrock Rovers
Fri 23-Jun Dundalk 4-0 Finn Harps
Fri 07-July Drogheda Utd 0-2 Finn Harps
Fri 14-Jul Finn Harps 2-1 Bohemian FC
Mon-24Jul Finn Harps 0-2 Derry City
FINN HARPS REMAINING FIXTURES 2017
28-Jul, 7.45pm Bray Wanderers v Finn Harps, Carlisle Grounds
04-Aug, 8pm Finn Harps v Galway United, Finn Park
11-Aug, 8pm Finn Harps v Bohemian FC, Finn Park
18-Aug, 7.45pm St Patrick’s Athletic v Finn Harps, Richmond Park
24-Aug, 8pm Finn Harps v Cork City, Finn Park
01-Sep, 7.45pm 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 Bohemians FC v Finn Harps, Dalymount Park
Compiled by Finn Harps Media Team, fhfcmedia@gmail.com
