Ollie Horgan says Friday night’s meeting with Galway United will be ‘some battle’ – and the Finn Harps manager has appealed for a big crowd to turn out and support his side.
Horgan’s Harps are five points behind First Division leaders UCD with just three series of games remaining in the regular season.
While a win on Friday would effectively safeguard a play-off berth for Harps, it could also blow open the title race were UCD to slip up against Drogheda, given that Harps go to Belfield in their next game.
Harps have been in excellent form of late and have not lost a League game since the middle of June when UCD won 3-1 in Ballybofey.
“We have to keep the recent momentum going to make sure of being in the play-offs,” Horgan warned.
“It’s a huge game for both ourselves and Galway. Galway are coming to us needing to win so its going to be some battle on Friday night.”
Harps officials have spoken a couple of times during the season about their concerns regarding the attendances at Finn Park.
However, despite those frustrations at times, Harps do have the third highest average attendance – their 667 bettered only by Shelbourne (675) and Galway United (793).
Horgan acknowledged the importance of the voices of the home crowd.
He said: “Look we are going into our most important game of the season so far.
“We need the support of people right across the county on Friday night to drive us on.
“There is so much at stake for both sides. We need a big turnout of supporters to make the players feel that desire to get the three points which would be massive for us.”
Harps will welcome defender Sam Todd back from suspension.
