OLLIE HORGAN HAS been in the dock for crimes against positivity, but there is more than a hint of realism, rather than negativity about the Finn Harps manager this week.
Horgan and newly-promoted Harps take on the reigning champions, Dundalk, at Oriel Park tomorrow night.
Horgan is without experienced midfielder Barry Molloy, while Sean Houston also misses out and there are grave doubts about the participation of Packie Mailey as he prepares to take on the Lilywhites.
Dundalk won the League by 11 points from Cork last season, scoring 78 goals in the process.
Although Richie Towell has since departed for Brighton and Hove Albion, but Stephen Kenny has added Robbie Benson from UCD and Patrick McEleney from Derry City.
As if to serve notice of Dundalk’s strength, Benson was the player Horgan built Harps around stopping when Benson was on the opposing side last year. Last week, Benson was a substitute for Dundalk in their 3-1 win over Bray Wanderers.
Harps recorded a first League win against Derry in 18 years last week, but with Molloy, Houston and, possibly, Mailey on the absent list, how does Horgan prepare to face a side with Dundalk’s force?
“With great difficulty,” Horgan says.
“If we had the team that went out at the start last week, yeah we’d take a cut off it, maybe take a beating, but give it a go.
“It’s not a nice position to be in, but this is the hand that we’ve been dealt with.
“The big one is Barry Molloy, though – that’s the one that wrecked the week.”
Molloy, who was only just prised out of retirement by Horgan last week, has injured a medial knee ligament and is wearing a leg brace with the possibility that the former Derry captain could be out for eight weeks.
A hamstring pull means Houston will be sidelined for a month, while a knee problem has Mailey rated as doubtful.
Ethan Boyle could come in for Mailey in a move that would enable Damien McNulty partner Keith Cowan at the heart of the Harps rearguard. Ryan McConnell, a closed season recruit who spent some time at Manchester United, is understood not to be ready for first-team action just yet.
Tony McNamee was Man of the Match last week after replacing Houston and should start this one.
The likes of Dave Scully and Adam Hanlon know full well the unforving nature of Oriel. They were part of a Bray Wanderers squad that lost 8-1 there last season and Horgan himself is aware of Dundalk’s considerable arsenal.
Daryl Horgan was captain of the Republic of Ireland Schoolboys team managed by the Harps boss, who also gave Schoolboy caps to Andy Boyle and John Mountney.
“I always look forward to games,” the Harps manager says. “This one, given what we’re facing, could be different. You have to be concerned going away to face this calibre of opponent.”
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