Despite doubts over a number of players Finn Harps manager Ollie Horgan is still relishing the challenge of this Friday night’s big Irish Daily Mail FAI Cup first round clash against Bohemians in Ballybofey (kick-off 8.00). It will be the third meeting of the two teams this season with a win each the record to date. Horgan has confirmed that the versatile Gareth Harkin will be missing due to a back injury while Danny Morrissey is still recovering from the hamstring problem that forced him off when Harps had a 2-1 league win over Bohs at Finn Park last month. Eddie Dsane is a big doubt after an illness that kept the in-form striker in hospital last weekend and Pascal Millien picked up a groin strain in training on Wednesday night.
“We’ve been here before in terms of a number of injuries but the lads are still looking forward to the different challenge of a cup game. Bohs are a very good side so I know the challenge is big but we have to bounce back after the disappointing defeat in the league to Galway last Friday night. Unfortunately, Gareth Harkin is out because of the back injury that forced him to come off in the first half of the Galway game. Danny Morrissey is still coming back from the hamstring injury and then Pascal Millien picked up a groin strain during the training last night. We have a few other lads with niggles that they have been struggling with but hopefully they should all right for tomorrow night. Eddie Dsane only got out of hospital on Tuesday so it would be a big ask for him to play against Bohs” Horgan said.
The Harps boss says Bohemians is a side that are well capable of defeating the top teams in the Premier Division. “Bohs proved their pedigree by the two wins they had against Cork City and Shamrock Rovers in quick succession. They are still well enough positioned to have a go at getting a place in Europe. I have no doubt as well that Keith Long and Trevor Crolly would be looking at getting a run in the FAI Cup. We have a great opportunity with home advantage to progress but it will be mighty tough against Bohs who will punish us if we’re not at the top of our game. Derek Pender didn’t play against us in the last game in Ballybofey and will be a huge asset to them. They pose a serious threat in attack with the likes of Dinny Corcoran who put them ahead at Finn Park when we met last month. George Poynton and Keith Ward are quality players that we need to close down. Akinade is a real handful up front and we very lucky to hold on for the win against them after he came on as a sub. There is no replay so it really sets it for a potentially very entertaining and competitive cup game” Horgan said.
TEAM NEWS
Injured: Danny Morrissey, Gareth Harkin
Doubtful: Eddie Dsane, Pascal Millien
LAST 10 GAMES v BOHEMIANS
16-Jul-05 Finn Harps 1-3 Bohemians (Premier Division)
14-Oct-05 Bohemians 3-1 Finn Harps (Premier Division)
28-Mar-08 Bohemians 3-0 Finn Harps (Premier Division)
24-Jun-08 Finn Harps 0-2 Bohemians (Premier Division)
19-Sep-08 Bohemians 3-0 Finn Harps (Premier Division)
06-May-16 Finn Harps 0-0 Bohemians (Premier Division)
05-Aug-16 Bohemians 2-0 Finn Harps (Premier Division)
28-Oct-16 Finn Harps 1-0 Bohemians (Premier Division)
28-Apr-17 Bohemians 2-0 Finn Harps (Premier Division)
14-Jul-17 Finn Harps 2-1 Bohemians (Premier Division)
OUR LAST MEETING WITH BOHEMIANS
14th July 2017. Finn Park. League of Ireland Premier Division.
Finn Harps 2 Dsane 34, Houston 58
Bohemian FC 1 Corcoran 28
Finn Harps – Ciaran Gallagher; Damien McNulty, Kilian Cantwell, Packie Mailey, Ciaran Coll; Caolan McAleer, Barry Molloy, Sean Houston, Gareth Harkin, Eddie Dsane (Ibrahim Keita 84); Danny Morrisey (Paddy McCourt 42). Not used: Harry Doherty (Gk), Jonny Bonner, Pascal Millien, Tommy McBride, Simon McGlynn
Bohemians – Shane Supple; Rob Cornwall, Daniel Byrne, Dan Casey, Lorcan Fitzgerald (Ishmail Akinade 75); George Poynton, Keith Ward, Philip Gannon, Faud Sule (Oscar Brennan 64), Ian Morris; Dinny Corcoran.
FINN HARPS GOALSCORERS 2017 (All competitions)
Ciaran O’Connor – 5
Sean Houston – 5 (1 EA Sports Cup)
Danny Morrissey – 4
Eddie Dsane – 4
Caolan McAleer – 2
Jonny Bonner – 2 (2 EA Sports Cup)
Ethan Boyle – 1
Kilian Cantwell – 1
Paddy McCourt – 1
BJ Banda – 1
Michael Funston – 1
Barry Molloy – 1
Packie Mailey – 1
Ibrahim Keita – 1
Mark Timlin – 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
Fri-28 Jul Bray Wanderers 2-3 Finn Harps
Fri-4 Aug Finn Harps 1-3 Galway United
FINN HARPS REMAINING FIXTURES 2017
11-Aug, 8pm Finn Harps v Bohemian FC, Finn Park (FAI Cup)
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
