Finn Harps v St. Patrick's Athletic – eircom League of Ireland Premier Division – Finn Park, Friday 3rd October, 2008 – kick-off 7.35pm

MATCH SPONSOR: Boals Goals, Letterkenny

by Joe Doherty

Team News:  Jonathan Minnock returns to the panel after missing last week's victory over Bray Wanderers through suspension.  Conor Gethins is also pushing for a start again after returning to the team as a late substitute last week.  Central defender Stuart Malcolm (groin) and midfielder Davy Byrne (thigh) are still doubtful having missed the last three games.

Paul Hegarty on the 1-0 victory against Bray Wanderers:  We were a wee bit sloppy after they had the man sent off and we weren't passing as well as we had been.  Up to that we had been in control and Neil McCafferty and Shaun McGowan were well on top in the middle.  We stopped getting it wide then and playing against ten men you have to try to stretch them.  That was the only frustrating thing and to be fair the players kept going and we got the rewards.  Probably on the balance of play, we deserved the win.  The Carlisle Grounds is always a tough place to get a result.

Paul Hegarty on Friday's game with St. Pat's:  They may well be disappointed with the result (against Hertha Berlin on Tuesday) but it won't change the game on Friday.  If anything, it will stand to them.  I remember from my time with Derry City, when we came back from European activity, the higher tempo was still there.

Paul Hegarty on the target of 30 points to stay in the Premier Division:  It might take more than that and it might take less, but that is what I think at this stage of the season.  There are some strange results at the end of every season but I think that 30 points should be enough, so we need another two wins from our last six games.

Previous Meetings:

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

06-Jul-08 (Premier Division) St. Patrick's Athletic 5 Finn Harps 1

Form guide (last six league games):

Finn Harps:  D-L-W-L-L-W (7 pts)

St. Patrick's Athletic:  D-W-L-W-L-W(10 pts)

Tomorrow's game at Finn Park kicks-off at the earlier than normal time of  7.35pm.