Airtricity League Division One - Monaghan United v Finn Harps - Gortageekan, 8pm Bread and butter for Harps
Alan Foley
Finn Harps’ FAI Cup loss at the hands of Sligo Rovers last Friday means the Ballybofey club’s ambition between now and the end of the season is finishing as high up the league as is possible.
Alan Keane’s 10th minute penalty gave the Showgrounds side a 1-0 win in the Twin Towns. And although Harps did certainly force the issue after the interval with a much better tempo and a firm grip on the ball, Sligo goalkeeper Ciaran Kelly wasn’t overly tested and the best that the hosts could muster were a couple of long range efforts; one of which Kevin McHugh almost provided a spectacular leveller, only for the ball to nestle on top of the net.
“We were unlucky in that we didn’t manage to force the game to at least a replay,” manager James Gallagher said of that game. “Both sides created very little, with most of the play between the two 18-yard boxes. They are a strong side, but I felt that we had the better of the play and the majority of the possession in the second half.
“We had a decent shout for a penalty and Kevin McHugh was unlucky with a looping shot – on another day we might have been awarded the penalty and Kevin would have scored, but luck wasn’t on our side. However, all the players can hold their heads high and we can take a lot of positives from the game.”
Chris Breen was the most misfortunate of all Harps’ players that night. Having scored twice in three substitute appearances since re-signing for the club, he was once more thrown from the bench in the latter stages.
However, his evening concluded with a trip to Letterkenny General Hospital in an ambulance after suffering a dislocated shoulder.
He is expected to be an absentee for between four and six weeks, as is Michael Funston, who has decided to stay and fight for his place although his rib injury might take as much as a month to heal.
Stephen McLaughlin, though, is available for selection after missing the cup tie through suspension last week.
Monaghan United are one of the form teams in the division currently. Their loss against Shelbourne last month was their first reversal in 12 games and that run has taken them to second place in the standings, just four points behind Derry City. However, Matthew Crossan’s free-kick sealed a win for Harps at Gortageekan in March and there was a scoreless draw in the Finn Park return in May.
“Our aim now is to finish as high up the table as we can,” Gallagher added. “We need to be professional and approach our remaining games in the right frame of mind. Monaghan will be a tough fixture on Friday evening as they are going well, but there has never been much in the games between us. We beat them 1-0 earlier in the season down there and they took a scoreless draw from our game in Finn Park. We will approach the game with the right attitude and will be going there looking for a positive result.”
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Weather for Donegal
Wednesday 08 February 2012
Today
Heavy rain
Temperature: 5 C to 7 C
Wind Speed: 22 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Light rain
Temperature: 6 C to 9 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: South west
