League Preview: Finn Harps -v- Waterford United
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FINN HARPS
Finn Harps will look to start life under new boss Ollie Horgan with a win at home in Finn Park on Friday. As with all SSE Airtricity League sides, there will be plenty of new blood in action on the pitch. The biggest new addition in the minds of many of the Harps faithful is the return of former captain Packie Mailey to the club after a two year absence. He is joined by new recruits, Carol Tiofack (Limerick FC), Conor Winn (Dundalk) and Ruairi Keating (Sligo Rovers-Loan).
The Donegal men start the campaign with three home games from their first four games, but new gaffer Horgan doesn’t feel its an advantage for his side: .“On Friday we start the season with one of the favourites for promotion coming to Ballybofey. Waterford lost out on a promotion place on the last day of last season. Having watched them a number of times last year I felt they were the best footballing team in the Division and they have added well to their squad ahead of the new season.”
The former Fanad United boss, who will taste the Airtricity League for the first time on Friday also said his team has enjoyed a good pre season but is under no illusions that the work is done, especially with the lack of games they’ve had on grass: We have been training for quite a while now and pre-season was decent but we still have a lot of work to do now that the new campaign is up and running,” continued Horgan. “While we played quite a few games, it was disappointing that we didn’t get more games on grass but unfortunately the weather put a stop to some of them - with the winter we’ve had, there’s not much we can do about it.”
WATERFORD UNITED
Waterford will be hoping to put the immense disappointment of last seasons unsuccessful promotion push behind them as they search for that extra, illustrious step. The first potential tripping point comes at Finn Park, but manager Tommy Griffin is confident of his side and their ability.
“I’m pleased that the lads are working hard for each other and we’ve played a lot of Premier sides, which is a different level to what we’ll be used to in the first division.
“I know results wise things haven’t been great but I can’t fault the lads for the type of football on a whole that they’ve been trying to play. One thing that we need to work on is starting games the way that we’re finishing them.
“I know people will ask is it because teams have had the game over and took their foot off but I look the other way. I think that the lads have pushed on in the second half of games and worked a lot harder so if we can start games well we’ll be ok.
“We are hoping to hit the ground running against Finn Harps. It’s not going to be an easy game but I think it’s one that we can win. It’s not an easy place to go but we’ve had our scouts watching them and we know what they’ll be like. I’m hoping that we can get off to a good start to the league. That’s important.”
United will be bolstered by the arrivals of Willie John Kiely (Tramore AFC) and Stephen Kenny (Cork City). Those two plus the move up from Under 19’s level of Patrick Fitzgerald will no doubt set the juices flowing in the loyal Blues support.
REFEREE: S Rodgers
Match Stats
Finn Harps are beginning their 46th successive League of Ireland season, having only been in existence for 60 years as a whole.
Waterford United have a fruitful time in Finn Park in recent times. They have won on their four previous visits to the Ballybofey ground.
The home side have only won twice in the last ten meetings between the sides. The most recent of those coming via a 2-0 win back in March of 2012.
Betting
Finn Harps: 13/8 Draw: 11/5 Waterford United: 11/8
Prediction
3-0 Waterford
Finn Harps:
Injured: None
Doubts: Tommy Bonner, Gareth Harkin, Josh Mailey,Carol Tiofack, Kevin McHugh
Suspended: None
Waterford United:
Injured: Michael Coady (Unavailable)
Doubts: None
Suspended: None
