Galway United v Finn Harps Preview by Joe Doherty Finn Harps resume action again after the mid-season break when they travel to Terryland Park for Friday night's Ford FAI Cup second round fixture against Premier Division Galway United. Harps boss Paul Hegarty will have to watch from the stands as he serves a one-match ban having been sent from the bench in last month's scoreless draw with Dundalk. Hegarty continues to plan without the injured Michael Funston but there was some good news on that front this week as the Letterkenny man has started taking a light part in training again. Chris Breen jetted out for a twelve month trip to Australia earlier this week and Gordon Simms has also played his last game for the club so Hegarty will have to reshuffle his panel. Barry Curran is likely to take Breen's place on the right-side of midfield while the rest of the team is likely to be as it were against Limerick 37 two weeks ago. Although promotion to the top tier of League of Ireland football is Harps' priority this season, Hegarty says that his side have prepared well for the trip to Terryland. “Our next priority is always the next game. The Galway game is the game we have been preparing for since the Limerick game and like every other match we play, we're going out to try and win it.” The boss accepts that the hosts are favourites. “Obviously we'll be up against it and in front of a big crowd at home, Galway will be expected to win. But we feel we are in with a decent chance. It we can manage to keep them out, you never know.” Galway go into the match after back-to-back victories over the teams occupying the top and bottom spots in the Premier Division. Last time out they came from behind to beat leaders St. Patrick's Athletic by the odd goal in three at Richmond Park – this after putting three goals past lowly Longford Town three days earlier. Their danger man is Derek Glynn who has scored four goals in the last two games and is fast becoming the find of the season for Tony Cousins men after arriving at Terryland Park last January from the junior leagues in Galway. Cousins though will have to plan without the suspended John Lester. One Harps player who will be familiar to the supporters of Galway United is striker Conor Gethins. The Lifford man spent the second half of last season on loan at Terryland Park and notched nine goals for United as they finished the season in third spot. Gethins has been finding his scoring boots again for Harps this season and his late brace against Limerick two weeks ago brought his season tally to six. The clubs have met in the Cup on just four previous occasions – these meetings coming in three consecutive seasons at the end of the last decade. In 1998, Premier Division Harps needed a replay to oust their First Division rivals. Twelve months later, Harps defeated the Tribesmen 2-1 in the semi-finals at Terryland Park. And finally in 2000, Harps lost out to United at Finn Park when the visitors ran out 3-1 winners on their way to their second FAI Cup semi-final in successions. In five meetings between the sides last season, there was little to choose. Harps knocked Galway out of the League Cup on penalties, while the league action produced three draws and a single Galway victory. Paul Hegarty will be hoping that his defence can remain watertight again on Friday night. Only Cobh Ramblers have managed to find the net against his side in the last five league games and the southerns are the only team to have tasted victory against Harps in the last six outings in all competitions. Harps will be hoping to continue their recent fine run on Friday and at least bring their Premier Division counterparts back to Finn Park for a replay next Monday night. Previous FAI Cup Meetings: 7 th February 1998 Galway United 2 Finn Harps 2 18 th February 1998 Finn Harps 3 Galway United 1 4 th April 1999 Galway United 1 Finn Harps 2 4 th March 2000 Finn Harps 1 Galway United 3 Form guide (last six games): Finn Harps: W-W-L-D-W-D Galway United: W-W-L-D-L-D Friday's game at Terryland Park kicks-off at 7.45pm. Should the game end in a draw, there will be no extra-time and a replay would take place on Monday night next, 18 th June, at Finn Park with a 7.45pm kick-off.
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