Cobh Ramblers v Finn Harps – eircom League of Ireland First Division – St. Colman's Park, Saturday 28 th July 2007 – kick-off 7.45pm

Two of the form teams in the First Division go head to head at St. Colman's Park on Saturday evening, as Paul Hegarty's Finn Harps make the six hundred mile round trip to face Stephen Henderson's Cobh Ramblers.  Ramblers were the last side to win against Harps in league action, when they won 2-0 at Finn Park towards the end of May.  Indeed, only Dundalk have managed to score a league goal in the subsequent eight games against Harps since Cobh's double strike.

Hegarty has a number of injury worries ahead of the trip to County Cork.  Michael Funston, who is back in training after missing the last four months, is still out.  New signing Neil Lloyd picked up a hairline fracture of the jaw in the friendly fixture against Scottish side St. Johnstone on Sunday night and will be out for the best part of a month.  Another new face Paddy McLaughlin also picked up a knock on Sunday but is expected to feature in the squad, although he may start on the bench.

Hegarty may name the same team that started in the 1-0 victory over Shelbourne last Friday.  “This weekend should be something similar to the squad for Shelbourne,” said Hegarty.  “I wouldn't envisage too many changes for this game, but we'll see closer to kick-off what the situation is.”

The boss is aware that this match is a big one for his side as they aim to close the gap further on the top three.  “It is a massive game for us and we need to be in a positive frame of mind and play in a positive manner to pick up a positive result.  We are playing well, confidence is high and I would hope that we can come back from Cobh with a positive result.  They will go in as favourites, but if we can get a break here and there you never know what will happen.”

There is a feel-good vibe around Finn Park at the minute that hasn't been since in a few years.  Hegarty says this is down to his side winning games.  “There's a good buzz about at the moment, but that comes down to winning games.  People want to support a winning team.  We have a lot of big games coming up, but we also have a lot of very important league games.  However, we are not looking any further forward than the Cobh game on Saturday.”

Cobh are the only side to have beaten Harps twice this season, 1-0 at St. Colman's Park in March and then that 2-0 victory at Finn Park in May.  Harps have lost all their previous four games against Ramblers and have only won once in six outings against Stephen Henderson's side – that sole victory coming twelve months ago at the Cork venue.

Previous Meetings:

22-Apr-06 Finn Harps 1 Cobh Ramblers 1 (First Division)

08-Jul-06 Cobh Ramblers 1 Finn Harps 2 (First Division)

09-Sep-06 Finn Harps 1 Cobh Ramblers 2 (First Division)

04-Nov-06 Cobh Ramblers 3 Finn Harps 0 (First Division)

25-Mar-07 Cobh Ramblers 1 Finn Harps 0 (First Division)

25-May-07 Finn Harps 0 Cobh Ramblers 2 (First Division)

Form guide (last six league games):

Finn Harps: W-D-W-W-W-W (16pts)

Cobh Ramblers: D-W-D-W-D-W (12pts)

Saturday's game at St. Colman's Park kicks-off at 7.45pm.