St. Patrick's Athletic v Finn Harps – eircom League of Ireland Premier Division – Richmond Park, Sunday 6th July, 2008 – kick-off 7.00pm

Finn Harps Manager Paul Hegarty will have new signings Austin Friel and Sean McCafferty available for the trip to Richmond Park for Sunday night's televised Premier Division fixture (kick-off 7.00pm).

Friel and McCafferty put pen to paper for Harps on the opening day of the July transfer window earlier this week.  Friel, a former Harps youth team player, signed from Irish League side Dungannon Swifts while McCafferty returns to the League of Ireland having spent the previous six months with English conference side Grays Athletic.

In addition to Friel and McCaffety, Harps boss Hegarty will also be able to welcome the suspended duo of Shaun Holmes and Stuart Malcolm back into the squad.  However, central defender Marc Mukendi must sit out the trip to the capital as he serves a one match ban.  Jonathan Minnock, nearing fitness again having missed almost all of this season, is still out as are Aaron Labonte, Cornelius Gallagher and Gary Beckett.

Reflecting back on last Friday night's 1-0 victory over Bray Wanderers at Finn Park, Hegarty said: “We had a lot of chances and could have won the game by more.  As well as a good victory, I thought it was a good performance.  Bray hit the post near the end and that could have changed the complexion of the whole thing.  I think we deserved our victory, we were the better side and deserved the three points.”

Earlier in the season Harps were taught a lesson by the Johnny McDonnell's Saints at Finn Park, as Pats ran out easy 3-0 winners.  “That was without doubt the biggest runaround that we got all season.  They fully deserved the win that night and we were lucky to lose by just three”, said Hegarty as he reflected back to the game in April.  “However, football is a funny game and if we can hold our shape on Sunday and take our chances then maybe we might be able to take something from the game.”

Hegarty knows Pats, who could return to the top of the table with victory on Sunday, will be a difficult proposition.  “They're full of confidence, but so are we after good performances against Bohemians in the second half and against Bray so we have a bit of confidence ourselves.

In their last visit to Inchicore three years ago, Harps left the Dublin venue with a share of the spoils after a scoreless draw.  However, Harps have failed to score against the Saints in the last four encounters between the sides.  When Harps did last find the net against St. Pat's, they knocked four past them in a 4-1 victory at Richmond Park.  What Harps and their supporters would give for a similar result on Sunday night! 

Previous Meetings:

23-Dec-00 (Premier Division) Finn Harps 0 St. Patrick's Athletic 1

13-Apr-01 (Premier Division) St. Patrick's Athletic 1 Finn Harps 4

08-Apr-05 (Premier Division) St. Patrick's Athletic 2 Finn Harps 0

02-Jul-05 (Premier Division) Finn Harps 0 St. Patrick's Athletic 2

30-Sep-05 (Premier Division) St. Patrick's Athletic 0 Finn Harps 0

11-Apr-08 (Premier Division) Finn Harps 0 St. Patrick's Athletic 3

Form guide (last six league games):

Finn Harps:   D-W-L-L-L-W (7 pts)

St. Patrick's Athletic:   D-W-L-D-D-W (9 pts)

Sunday's game at Richmond Park kicks-off at 7.00pm.