Dundalk v Finn Harps – eircom League of Ireland First Division – Oriel Park, Thursday 12 th July 2007 – kick-off 7.45pm

New Harps signing Neil Lloyd is expected to go into the squad for tomorrow night's clash with Dundalk at Oriel Park.  Lloyd, a former Harps player, spent the last two years at Letterkenny Rovers in the Ulster Senior League and put pen to paper on a contract to the end of the season at Finn Park.  Harps manager Paul Hegarty will also include another new recruit, Declan Divin, in his panel.  The former Institute player made his debut after coming on as a second half sub in the 1-0 victory over Kilkenny City last weekend.

Harps are the form team in the Division having won each of their last six games – keeping a clean sheet in all of those fixtures.  Dundalk though will prove a tough nut to crack and they sit top of the table having lost just once this season, that defeat coming three weeks ago against Cobh Ramblers in Cork.  Hegarty is aware how tough the challenge will be on Thursday in Oriel.  “We have won our last six games without conceding a goal and are playing well at the minute.  But Dundalk will be tough to beat in their own backyard and if we can come away with a positive result on Thursday it will be another step in the right direction.”

Hegarty was glad of the break from midweek action this week.  “We've been working hard recently and Saturday's game against Kilkenny was our seventh game in twenty-one days, which is hard for part-time players.  Having said that, we did well in all those games and got positive results apart from the League Cup Quarter-Final in Belfield.”

Harps must plan again with the injured Michael Funston while midfielder John O'Loughlin is a doubt.  Hegarty though is hopeful that winger Barry Curran will be available again.  “Hopefully Barry will be available,” said Hegarty, “but unfortunately John O'Loughlin broke down in training on Saturday so he couldn't play in Kilkenny.  I'm not sure how he'll be for Thursday night and is a doubt at the minute.”

If both O'Loughlin and Curran miss out, Hegarty is expected to name the same eleven that played against Kilkenny, which will mean that the Harps gaffer names the same team for two games in a row for the first time this season.

Harps and Dundalk have already met twice this season.  On the opening weekend of the season, Dundalk beat their visitors by the odd goal in five at Oriel Park.  The return meeting at Finn Park in May resulted in a scoreless draw.

Previous Meetings:

04-May-06 (First Division) Dundalk 1 Finn Harps 3

15-Jul-06 (First Division) Finn Harps 1 Dundalk 2

15-Sep-06 (First Division) Dundalk 1 Finn Harps 1

19-Nov-06 (First Division) Finn Harps 0 Dundalk 1

08-Mar-07 (First Division) Dundalk 3 Finn Harps 2

11-May-07 (First Division) Finn Harps Dundalk 0

Form guide (last six league games):

Finn Harps: W-W-W-W-W-W (18pts)

Dundalk: W-W-D-L-W-W (13pts)

Tomorrow's game at Oriel Park kicks-off at 7.45pm.