Finn Harps return to the scene of their biggest defeat of the season when they make the long trip south to Turners Cross tonight to take on promotion chasing Cork City (kick-off 7.45pm).
“Cork, for me, are a Premier Division side and if they get up they could go on a run like Derry City are at the minute,” commented Harps Manager Peter Hutton ahead of the trip to Leeside.
“We were not in charge the last time the lads went to Turner’s Cross but by all accounts they didn’t start too badly but the heads went down after the conceded the first goal and Cork ran out easy winners in the end.
“We know it’ll be a very difficult game but the way I see it, we’ve nothing to lose. We’re trying to get things in order for next season and are quietly confident going into the game.”
Harps have tightened things up at the back in recent months, and have kept clean sheets in six of their last seven games. The only defeat in that run of games saw Harps lose by the odd goal in three to Limerick at Finn Park courtesy of a wonder goal from Denis Behan.
“Defensively, we’ve improved a good bit of late and that’s down to people taking responsibility and we are playing better as a unit,” said Hutton.
“We want players to build better relationships in their part of the field and would also like to take some of the pressure off the front players with more defenders and midfielders chipping in with goals. We’re a work in progress but we are reasonably so satisfied with the progress so far. But Cork will be a massive challenge.”
Harps will welcome back suspended trio of Blain Curtis, Packie Mailey and Gareth Harkin, while Conor O’Grady is also back in contention having overcome an ankle injury that kept him out of action for five months. However, Harps may have to plan without the injured duo of Mark McGoldrick and top scorer Kevin McHugh.
Should McHugh fail to make it, it is likely Stephen O’Donnell will lead the line and will be hoping to add to the two goals he got in last week’s 2-0 victory over Salthill at Finn Park. “He’s comfortable either in midfield or up top and he took his two goals very well,” said Hutton. “If anything, he was a little disappointed at not getting a hat-trick but he had a good game.”
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Suspended: None.
Doubtful: Kevin McHugh, Mark McGoldrick.
Injured: Peter Hutton (hamstring), James Doherty (thigh).
Form Guide (last six league games)
Finn Harps: W-L-W-D-D-W (11 pts)
Cork City: W-D-W-D-W-W (14 pts)
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Previous away games against Cork City
06-Jun-05 – Cork City 2-0 Finn Harps (Premier Division)
29-Aug-05 – Cork City 0-0 Finn Harps (FAI Cup)
18-Apr-08 – Cork City 3-0 Finn Harps (Premier Division)
10-Oct-08 – Cork City 1-1 Finn Harps (Premier Division)
23-Jul-10 – Cork City 2-1 Finn Harps (First Division)
15-Apr-11 – Cork City 5-0 Finn Harps (First Division)
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Finn Harps Goalscorers 2011
Kevin McHugh – 10
Blain Curtis – 4
Marc Brolly – 3
Stephen O’Donnell – 2
Kevin Devanney – 1
Keith Cowan – 1
Gareth Harkin – 1
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Finn Harps Results 2011 (Harps goalscorers in brackets)
24th September 2011 – FD – Finn Harps 2-0 Salthill Devon (O’Donnell 2)
9th September 2011 – FD – Waterford United 0-0 Finn Harps
4th September 2011 – FD – Finn Harps 0-0 Monaghan United
20th August 2011 – FD – Athlone Town 0-1 Finn Harps (McHugh)
13th August 2011 – FD – Finn Harps 1-2 Limerick (Brolly)
6th August 2011 – FD – Finn Harps 2-0 Mervue United (Devanney, Curtis)
22nd July 2011 – FD – Wexford Youth 0-2 Finn Harps (Curtis 2)
16th July 2011 – FD – Finn Harps 0-3 Shelbourne
9th July 2011 – FD – Longford Town 2-3 Finn Harps (Cowan, McHugh)
2nd July 2011 – FD – Finn Harps 0-2 Cork City
25th June 2011 – FD – Salthill Devon 0-4 Finn Harps (McHugh 3, Curtis)
11th June 2011 – FD – Finn Harps 1-0 Waterford United (McHugh)
6th June 2011 – FAI – Finn Harps 0-1 Longford Town
3rd June 2011 – FAI – Longford Town 0-0 Finn Harps
30th May 2011 – FD – Monaghan United 1-0 Finn Harps
26th May 2011 – FD – Finn Harps 1-0 Athlone Town (McHugh)
20th May 2011 – FD – Limerick 1-0 Finn Harps
13th May 2011 – FD – Mervue United 2-1 Finn Harps (Brolly)
5th May 2011 – FD – Finn Harps 0-1 Wexford Youths
29th April 2011 – FD – Shelbourne 1-0 Finn Harps
22nd April 2011 – FD – Finn Harps 1-2 Longford Town (Brolly)
19th April 2011 – FD – Athlone Town 1-0 Finn Harps
15th April 2011 – FD – Cork City 5-0 Finn Harps
8th April 2011 – FD – Finn Harps 0-0 Salthill Devon
28th March 2011 – EA – Mervue United 1-0 Finn Harps
25th March 2011 – FD – Waterford United 1-0 Finn Harps
18th March 2011 – FD – Finn Harps 2-2 Monaghan United (McHugh 2)
4th March 2011 – FD – Finn Harps 2-2 Limerick (McHugh, Harkin)
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