Finn Harps host SD Galway tonight
Added: 03-08-2012
Finn Harps will be hoping to extend their unbeaten run to five games when they host bottom of the table SD Galway at Finn Park on Friday evening (kick-off 7.45pm).
Harps beat Mervue United 3-2 at Finn Park at the start of July and have followed it up with three successive draws against Athlone Town (1-1) and Waterford United (1-1) on the road, and Wexford Youths (3-3) at Finn Park.
In the last two home games at Finn Park, there has been eleven goals scored, but Harps boss Peter Hutton feels it is disappointing that crowds are not bigger to witness the entertainment on offer.
“Any player worth their salt enjoys playing in an environment, it gives them that extra spur. The games at Finn Park have been entertaining so far this year. There has certainly been no lack of goals, maybe too many for my liking. If you look at the last few games we played here at Finn Park there has been a plethora of goals.”
“It’s frustrating not only from a players point of view but also the supporters who do go to the games that want to create a bit of an atmosphere. I understand expectations are that we should maybe be higher up the table but we’ve been very unfortunate with the run of injuries – we have three long-term – and suspensions we’ve had this season. But the performances recently have been fairly decent and we’re trying our best to finish as high up the table as we can. We have a young side here with a few experienced heads there too, so it’s important the public gets behind the team and gives them their encouragement.”
SD Galway (or Salthill Devon) have never beaten Finn Harps in eight previous meetings. Harps have won seven of those meetings, with Salthill’s only point obtained against Harps coming in a scoreless draw at Finn Park last season. In the two games this season between the side, Harps have ran out easy winners on each occasion – 3-0 at Finn Park last April and 5-1 at Terryland Park at the end of May. So, Harps should run out easy winners on the Friday night? Not so, says Hutton.
“As soon as you start to make the assumption that all you have to do is show up, that’s when you fall flat on your face,” warned Hutton. “You have to be careful against every side and certainly they will be fighting very hard between now and the end of the season not to finish bottom of the table. Having said that, we must concentrate on our own game and what we can bring to the table. The boys should be confident from being unbeaten in four games and this is another chance for them to build on that. It’s important we put on a performance for the fans too.”
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TEAM NEWS
Suspended: Thomas McBride (5th of 7 games), Aaron O’Hagan
Doubtful: Tommy Bonner, Michael Funston, Mark Scoltock.
Injured: Stephen O’Donnell (cruciate), Hugh Carlin (cruciate), Blain Curtis (cruciate).
Form Guide (last six league games)
Finn Harps: L-L-W-D-D-D (6 pts)
SD Galway: W-L-D-L-L-L (4 pts)
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Previous home games against SD Galway
12/03/2010 – Finn Harps 2-0 Salthill Devon (First Division)
20/08/2010 – Finn Harps 3-2 Salthill Devon (First Division)
08/04/2011 – Finn Harps 0-0 Salthill Devon (First Division)
24/09/2011 – Finn Harps 2-0 Salthill Devon (First Division)
06/04/2012 – Finn Harps 3-0 SD Galway (First Division)
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Finn Harps Goalscorers 2012
Kevin McHugh – 7 (1 in League Cup)
Adam Clarke – 4
Thomas McBride – 3
Paul McVeigh - 2
Blain Curtis – 2
Ciaran Coll – 2
Paul Simon Tracey – 2
Thomas McMonagle – 2
Matt Harkin – 2
Thomas Bonner – 1
Aaron O’Hagan – 1
Shaun McGowan – 1
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Finn Harps Results 2012 (Harps goalscorers in brackets)
27/07/2012 – (FD) Waterford United 1-1 Finn Harps (Harkin)
21/07/2012 – (FD) Finn Harps 3-3 Wexford Youths (McMonagle, McHugh, McGowan)
13/07/2012 – (FD) Athlone Town 1-1 Finn Harps (O’Hagan)
07/07/2012 – (FD) Finn Harps 3-2 Mervue United (McHugh, McVeigh 2)
29/06/2012 – (FD) Limerick 3-0 Finn Harps
22/06/2012 – (FD) Finn Harps 1-3 Longford Town (Harkin)
30/05/2012 – (FD) Salthill Devon 1-5 Finn Harps (Bonner, McBride 2, Coll 2)
23/05/2012 – (FC) Derry City 4-0 Finn Harps
18/05/2012 – (FD) Finn Harps 0-1 Waterford United
11/05/2012 – (FD) Wexford Youths 3-0 Finn Harps
05/05/2012 – (FD) Finn Harps 1-2 Athlone Town (McHugh)
27/04/2012 – (FD) Mervue United 3-0 Finn Harps
21/04/2012 – (FD) Finn Harps 1-3 Limerick (Clarke)
14/04/2012 – (FD) Longford Town 1-3 Finn Harps (Tracey, McBride, Curtis)
09/04/2012 – (LC) Derry City 4-0 Finn Harps
06/04/2012 – (FD) Finn Harps 3-0 Salthill Devon (Clarke, McHugh, Curtis)
31/03/2012 – (FD) Waterford United 0-2 Finn Harps (Tracey, Waterford o.g.)
26/03/2012 – (LC) Finn Harps 2-0 Mayo League (Mayo o.g., McHugh)
24/03/2012 – (FD) Finn Harps 0-1 Wexford Youths
16/03/2012 – (FD) Athlone Town 2-0 Finn Harps
10/03/2012 – (FD) Finn Harps 4-3 Mervue United (Clarke, McHugh 2, McMonagle)
02/03/2012 – (FD) Limerick 2-1 Finn Harps (Clarke)
FD = First Division; LC = League Cup; FC = FAI Cup
