WITH UCD’S Europa League adventure having come to a grounding halt last night, the Students return to their bread and butter and will entertain Finn Harps on Sunday, 7pm.
Ollie Horgan’s side didn’t have the fixture confirmed until UCD lost 5-1 at home to Slovan Bratislava on Thursday night, having lost 1-0 away from home in Slovakia.
Wexford Youths currently trail Harps by a point having missed their chance to go back on top tonight, losing 3-1 at Athlone Town tonight.
Shelbourne – four points off Harps with a game more played – are third following their 2-1 win at Waterford United.
UCD have two games in hand on Harps, although trail the Ballybofey side by 10 points.
“We prepared for the game going ahead on Sunday but if UCD had won on Thursday – which would have been great for all the teams in the league – we would have trained instead,” Horgan said. ” The fact the game could have been postponed didn’t affect our plans at all.”
Following a 12-match unbeaten start from the beginning of the campaign, Harps lost three on the bounce in June. However, their comeback since then has been commendable – three victories and three clean sheets.
Following the 1-0 home win over Cabinteely FC, Harps were 3-0 winners at Waterford United and then last Friday overcame Cobh Ramblers thanks to goals from Packie Mailey and Wilfried Tagbo. Ciaran Gallagher, the Harps goalkeeper, also saved a penalty from Stephen Kenny.
“It was a good result on Friday but had Cobh scored the penalty it could have been a completely different story,” said Horgan. “Cobh will count themselves unlucky that they didn’t get something out of the game.”
“Obviously we are happy to win those games which keeps us in touch, but we need to improve to have any chance of staying in the top part of the table.”
Harps will be without central defender Keith Cowan, who got married in Italy on Wednesday but otherwise have a full squad to choose from. Both the league fixtures this season against UCD have finished in 2-2 draws.
Video: Kevin McHugh’s goal got a point for Finn Harps on their last visit to Belfield to play UCD in April
