Finn Harps v Kilkenny City – eircom League of Ireland First Division – Finn Park, Friday 4th May – kick-off 8.00pm

Preview by Joe Doherty

Finn Harps Manager Paul Hegarty will have to name a changed side for the tenth game in a row as Kilkenny City make the visit to Finn Park on Friday night.  Centre-back Gordon Simms sits the game out after his red-card in Athlone last weekend.  Jonathan Minnock looks certain to miss out again as he is unlikely to recover from an Achilles injury while Michael Funston is also struggling.  Simms' place will to be filled by Nigerian Eloka Asokuh with Sean Roddy slotting into Asokuh's right-back spot.  After an explosive display by Chris Breen last weekend, the Stranorlar man should retain his strikers role with one of Stephen Parkhouse, Conor Gethins or Seamus Brown partnering him in attack.  The midfield is likely to be that which finished the game at the new Athlone Town stadium which will mean Shaun Holmes starting at left-back in place of the injured Minnock.

Hegarty feels his side might just be starting to turn the corner after a woeful start to the season.  "I think we gave a very positive performance (in Athlone) because we created an awful lot of chances.  We scored two very good goals and were a wee bit unlucky not to get more.  Normally getting a point in Athlone would have been a good result, but we could have been doing with the three points.  In saying that, I think we performed really well."  

The Manager was full of praise for Chris Breen.  "I thought Chris Breen was outstanding and it's no coincidence that, as the pitches get better, Chrissy improves as well."  

Hegarty acknowledges the fact that his side could have been put to the sword by Athlone.  "In fairness, Athlone started the match really well and we could have been two or three down early doors.  I have to say it's the first actual football match I've seen in this Division so far this season because Athlone came out to play football and we came out to play football."

On Kilkenny, Hegarty says that his side can expect a tough game.  "It's going to be another tough game for us tonight and we know that we'll have to be on top of our game if we are to get anything.  We'll have to change things about slightly because we're missing Gordon (Simms) through suspension," said the Ballindrait man.  "There's one way out of this for us and that's hard work, but you still need that wee bit of luck behind you.  Nothing is guaranteed in football, but we just have to keep going out and trying to win these matches."

Kilkenny sit two points ahead of Harps on the league table and come to Ballybofey having picked up four points from their last two games.  Kilkenny beat Harps twice last season and were unlucky not to have taken something on their second visit to Finn Park.  

This game marks the end of the first quarter of the season, and after Friday night Harps will have played all nine other sides in the First Division.

Most Recent Meetings:
25th March 2006 (1st Division) Finn Harps 1 Kilkenny City 2
3rd June 2006 (1st Division) Kilkenny City 1 Finn Harps 0
6th August 2006 (1st Division) Finn Harps 2 Kilkenny City 1
6th October 2006 (1st Division) Kilkenny City 0 Finn Harps 2

Form guide this season:
Finn Harps: D-L-L-D-D-L-W-L (6pts).   Kilkenny City: D-W-L-L-D-W-L-L (8pts).

Friday's game kicks-off at 8.00pm.