DATE CONFIRMED FOR SLIGO LEAGUE CUP GAME

April 19, 2007

By Joe Doherty

Finn Harps today confirmed that the eircom League of Ireland Cup second round fixture with Sligo Rovers will take place on Bank Holiday Monday, 7th May 2007 at Finn Park with a 7.00pm kick-off. The game will be played to a finish on the night, with extra-time and penalties to decide the tie if needed.

Harps progressed to this stage of the competition courtesy of a two-goal victory over Fanad United in the first round – Shaun Holmes and Conor Gethins scoring the second half-goals. Sligo were given a bye in round one and so will play their first league cup game of the season at Finn Park.

There is an extra incentive to do well in this season's competition as the winner of the eircom League of Ireland Cup will qualify for a play-off game against the winners of the First Division for a place in the 2008 Setanta Sports Cup. If the winner of the competition has already qualified for the Setanta Sports Cup, the play-off will involve the winner of the First Division and the next available club in the Premier Division.

This is the fourth season in a row that Harps have been drawn against Rovers in the eircom League of Ireland Cup, but this time the tie will be played at Finn Park. In each of the previous three seasons the teams have met in this competition and on each occasion the games have been played in Sligo. In 2004, Harps defeated their north-west counterparts 5-1. In each of the following two seasons, the First Division club has progressed at the expense of the Premier side. In 2005, First Division Sligo beat Premier Division Harps by the only goal of the game at the Showgrounds, while last season First Division Harps defeated Premier Division Sligo on penalties after a 1-1 draw at the same venue. The last time these two sides met in the League Cup at Finn Park was in 1997 when the clubs played out a 2-2 draw.