Finn Harps v Galway United – Ford FAI Cup 2 nd Round (Replay) – Finn Park, Monday 18 th June 2007 – kick-off 7.45pm

Preview by Joe Doherty

Two late goals from Conor Gethins and Stephen Parkhouse were enough to give Finn Harps a second bite of the cherry after they came from 2-0 down to grab a 2-2 draw against Galway United at Terryland Park on Friday night.

It's almost a case of history repeating itself.  In the first ever FAI Cup meeting between the two sides back in 1998, Galway and Harps played out a 2-2 draw in Terryland Park before Harps eventually won the replay 3-1 at Finn Park.  Harps supporters will be hoping for a similar result tomorrow.

Harps will have Paul Hegarty back in the dressing room and on the bench for Monday night's replay.  The Harps boss had to watch from the stands in Terryland on Friday night as he served a one match touchline ban.

Hegarty will have to plan without the injured trio of Michael Funston, Eloka Asokuh and Marc Brolly.  Funston is a long-term absentee but both Asokuh and Brolly limped out of the action in Terryland on Friday.  “We were forced into a couple of changes on Friday”, commented the Harps boss.  “Luca hurt his groin and had to come off at half-time and we put on Marc Brolly, who then had to come off again five minutes later.”

The Harps Manager acknowledges that Galway are probably still favourites to progress.  “I still think Galway will be the favourites to win the tie”, he said. “I think they probably underestimated us a bit on Friday night with them being the Premier Division team but they'll be well prepared for the replay.  With them being a full-time club, they'll be well rested, but our boys will be working on Monday and then have to go to play the match at night.” 

Hegarty doesn't rule out his own sides chance to progress. “I think if we get our focus right and show that wee bit of belief and hunger we showed on Friday then the tie is far from over.  We can pat ourselves on the back for a job half done or we can go and finish the job off.  We have achieved nothing yet because we aren't through, but in saying that if we get our attitude right we can get into the next round.  In cup football you never know what can happen and we just have to take it as it comes.”

Hegarty said that there are plenty of positives to take from the game.  “I thought we started off a bit nervy. You could look at the negatives from Friday, but I would prefer to look at the positives.  The fact that we came from two-nil down against Galway United a Premier Division side was great.  We went down there last Friday very confident.  We felt that the pitch would be very good and would let us play the football we like.  And, Galway were the first to admit that we passed them off the park and played by far the better football.”

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

15 th June 2007 Galway United 2 Finn Harps 2

Form guide (last six games):

Finn Harps: D-W-W-L-D-W

Galway United: D-W-W-L-D-L

Monday's game at Finn Park kicks-off at 7.45pm.  Should the game end in a draw, there will be extra-time and penalties if required.