FINN Harps are nearing a promotion play-off place and could yet win the SSE Airtricity League First Division title.
Ollie Horgan’s team sit six points clear of fourth-placed Shelbourne with only five games remaining.
It would now represent a serious disappointment were Harps not to claim, at least, one of the play-offs.
Harps are currently in second place, two points behind Wexford and two ahead of UCD.
While Harps have both Wexford and UCD still to play – both in Ballybofey – there are key games next weekend and the weekend after with Wexford and UCD crossing swords twice.
Horgan has predicted twists and turns in the title race yet and a close call looks likely.
Interestingly, two of Harps’ remaining home games will be on Saturday evenings, meaning that new striker Rob Waters could be available to make the trip to the north-west.
Here’s a snapshot of Harps’ run-in:
Saturday, September 5th v Waterford United at Finn Park
BOTTOM club Waterford United are in Ballybofey this weekend.
Harps have won all three meetings this season with the Blues. Damien McNulty and Gareth Harkin scored in a 2-0 win in the first contest at the RSC with Nathan Boyle (2) and Raymond Foy on the mark in July for a 3-0 win.
Waterford fared much better in May when they pushed Harps all the way and it took a late Ruairi Keating winner at Finn Park. Michael Funston and Wilfried Tagbo had drilled Harps 2-0 ahead only for Shaun Corcoran and Ross Fitzpatrick to pull Waterford level.
The week of that game in Finn Park, Roddy Collins had a cut at Harps in his Irish Daily Star column when he wrote: “Finn Harps have great tradition, but that’s in the past…How big can they become? Not big enough in my opinion.”
Collins was subsequently named Waterford’s manager and can expect a warm welcome this weekend.
Saturday, September 19th v Cobh Ramblers at St Colman’s Park
BY THE time the Harps coach pulls out of Navenny Street to begin the long journey to Cobh, the First Division’s future could be much clearer with Wexford and UCD set to have met twice in the intervening period.
Harps won both their home games 2-0 with Wilfried Tagbo on the mark in each game. Kevin McHugh and Packie Mailey also netted at Finn Park.
It took a late surge for Harps to earn their stripes in their previous jaunt to Cobh.
Michael Funston had shot thgem ahead, but goals by Rob Waters and Darren Murphy looked to cause an upset only for Josh Mailey and Raymond Foy to swing the tide in the final 11 minutes.
Waters now dons Harps’ colours and with Harps in the hunt, this one is a game they simply can’t afford not to win.
Friday, September 25th v UCD at Finn Park
TWO of their three meetings this season ended in two-all draws.
UCD are the form team in the Division having gone 17 unbeaten until Shelbourne put a pin in their balloon last weekend.
That result catapulted the cat right among the pigeons and has really given Harps a lift.
The teams shared the spoils at Belfield when Tagbo and then McHugh cancelled out goals by Mick Leahy and Jamie Doyle.
In Ballybofey, they also came from a goal down on two occasions with Keating and McHugh responding to strikes by Jack Watson and Robbie Benson.
Harps fought tooth and nail against the Students in their last clash, but Benson’s goal was the solitary strike as Collie O’Neill’s men won 1-0.
Friday, October 9th v Athlone Town at Athlone Town Stadium
ATHLONE have been something of a banana skin for Harps this season, but they’re likely to have to win this to stay in the title chase heading into the final night of the season.
It was Athlone who plunged Harps to a first League loss of the campaign when Marco Chindea’s goal stole a win on June 5th.
Earlier in the year, Keith Cowan scored as Harps took an unconvincing 1-0 win at Finn Park while Athlone frustrated Harps and earned a scoreless draw in July when they came to Ballybofey.
This is one that Horgan will rightly be cautious of.
Saturday, October 17th v Wexford Youths at Finn Park
HORGAN has said that if side is still in contention for one of the top berths by the time Wexford arrive in Ballybofey in the middle of next month then the season will go down as a successful one.
Propelled by Danny Furlong, a player Harps know all too well from his deadly brace in Youths’ 2-0 win at Ferrycarrig Park recently, Wexford are the Division’s front-runners.
Harps managed a 1-0 win away when Thomas McMonagle scored, but on a night when Harps were on top in Ballybofey, it was clinical Wexford – thanks to an Andy Mulligan brace along with a Furlong stride – who won 3-1.
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