Play-Off Final Preview: Drogheda United -v- Finn Harps

DROGHEDA UNITED

After the relatively comfortable playoff win over Cabinteely on Friday evening, Drogheda United are back in action on Monday evening as they face Finn Harps in the first-leg of the promotion/relegation playoff final (kick-off is at 7.45pm).

The United Park showdown comes just three days after the win over Cabo, with defender Luke McNally scoring a sensational hat-trick for the Boynesiders.

However, a new test awaits the Co. Louth side – with Premier Division coming to town to try and stave off United’s promotion hunt.

“When you’re playing, you’ll enjoy yourself and score as much. It comes from Tim and Conan will tell you, when we played Shels, in particular the Tolka games – we played a lot of good football,” Drogheda assistant boss Kevin Doherty told extratime.ie.

“Ultimately you want to play football that wins, and we were lucky enough to win it tonight – well not lucky because we deserved but it came off tonight.

“We’ve got good players; they’ve worked hard during the break – they really put the effort in, but we’re not even done half the job.

“We have a much, much tougher test coming up – it’s difficult that it’s Friday-Monday-Friday but we’re delighted to be here, we’ll take it.”

“It’s going to be difficult; we certainly know that. They’ve strengthened a bit from the time we played last year. We’d know most of them, we’ve played them a few times.

“They’ve their players now that have Premier Division experience. It’s going to be tough no matter who we got.

“It’s not as if they finished bottom of the league by twenty points, they’ve had some good results this year.”

The 39-year-old finished; “They’re a good side, well managed, well coached and physical so we’ll do a lot of video work on them over the weekend and get them as ready as they can be for Monday.”   

Drogheda are yet to release team news ahead of Monday evening’s first-leg.

FINN HARPS

Hoping to become just the first side since 2013 to stay up in the promotion/relegation playoff final, Finn Harps make the trip south to face Drogheda United in the first-leg of the tie on Monday evening.

The Co. Donegal side saw a much-changed side fall to a heavy defeat away to bitter rivals Derry City on Friday evening, with manager Ollie Horgan opting to take in Friday’s game between Cabinteely and Drogheda over his side’s game with Derry.

Three Harps players made their first-team debuts in Jamie Bell, Kieran Farren and Jack Doherty – as Derry confirmed their Europa League qualification with a 4-0 win.

Horgan’s side are unbeaten in four against Drogheda, with their last defeat against Tim Clancy’s side coming in March 2018 at United Park.

Finn Harps have also seen goalkeeper Ciaran Gallagher ruled out with injury for the rest of the season.

Harps have yet to release any team news ahead of Monday evening’s first-leg, but they are not thought to have any further injuries to their ranks.    

Referee: Robert Hennessy.

MATCH STATS

Drogheda are winless against Finn Harps in four previous attempts, with their last win coming in March 2018 at United Park over Ollie Horgan’s side.

Finn Harps have yet to win back to back away wins over the Boynesiders – with their last back to back over Drogs coming in 2018, winning both home and away.

The Co. Donegal side have only won one of their previous nine competitive games, with a win over Waterford in their final league game of the season.  

BETTING

Drogheda United 7/5; Draw 12/5; Finn Harps 6/4.

PREDICTION

Drogheda United 1 - 0 Finn Harps

Drogheda United

Injured: Unavailable.

Doubtful: Unavailable.

Suspended: None.

Finn Harps

Injured: Unavailable.

Doubtful: Unavailable.

Suspended: None.