FINN HARPS MANAGER Ollie Horgan is expecting a different sort of test from Bohemians on Friday night in Ballybofey.
The Dubliners might be a point beneath seventh-placed Harps heading into a game that is the final fixture in the first round of games, but Horgan believes Keith Long’s team will improve on their lot.
Bohs haven’t scored in their last three games, losing 4-0 to Shamrock Rovers, 1-0 at Derry City and 2-0 against Dundalk.
Striker Ismahil Akinade has been struggling of late with a hamstring injury but could return to action in Ballybofey.
[adrotate group=”43″]Last year, Harps came up against Ayman Ben Mohamed, then of Longford Town and Horgan knows Derek Prendergast well. When Horgan was managing Fanad United, he faced Bangor Celtic, who had Prendergast at centre-back, in the Intermediate Cup.
“Bohs are a hardy bunch, but they can play too,” Horgan said.
“Dan Byrne, Derek Pender, Derek Prendergast, Roberto Lopes, these boys are hardy, physical boys and you have the likes of Akinade, who is impossible to mark at times.
[adrotate group=”62″]“Bohs are no soft touch. They’re inner-city Dubs and are hardy ones at that.”
Harps, the manager feels, have to be ready for a war on Friday night.
With that in mind, it can again be expected that Keith Cowan and Damien McNulty (pictured above) will play through the pain barrier, having done likewise in the 1-1 draw at Wexford in Friday.
Both are nursing knocks, but will be key men in the Harps rearguard.
[adrotate group=”38″]Raymond Foy (hamstring) and Matthew Crossan (knee) are definitely out, as are Josh Mailey and Michael Rafter, while Kevin McHugh is a doubt, owing to a knee problem.
Harps’ start to the season has yielded 11 points from ten games so far.
Horgan said: “I’d be quite positive about it. What we’ve lost in some games, we gained in others, but I do think we need to improve. There are teams below us now who will definitely improve, so we’re going to have to do likewise.”
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