Injury-ravaged Finn Harps and Wexford Youths must both go into tonight’s League of Ireland Premier Division game at Ferrycarraig Park without their first choice strikers.
Harps will be without David Scully, who has been a big hit since arriving at the start of the season, while Danny Furlong, the 2015 First Division Player of the Year and top scorer, will not be available for Wexford.
Scully is suspended for one game, having picked up five yellow cards, while Furlong is ruled out as a result of a red card suspension.
But that is only the tip of the iceberg as far as Ollie Horgan’s selection headaches are concerned. He has seven players out through injury – Barry Molloy (hamstring), Josh Mailey (groin), Keith Cowan (groin), Kevin McHugh (groin), Richard Brush (groin), Raymond Foy (hamstring) and Michael Rafter (ankle) while doubts hang over Damien McNulty and Matthew Crossan, who are both carrying knocks.
Wexford were the runaway winners of the First Division last year and deservedly won the title with Furlong being their star man.
Horgan rates him highly and his absence should boost Harps’ hopes, although the Harps manager is quick to point out that the Wexford venue is a tough one to go to and the home side will be looking at this game as a possible opportunity to reverse their recent slide.
Wexford have actually lost their last three games – two in the league and one in the cup – although prior to this run, they took seven points from nine, including a draw with Cork City at Turner’s Cross.
“Wexford have finished ahead of us in the First Division in the last four seasons and deservedly so,” said Horgan.
“They won the First Division last year with a mixture of great football with strength and speed.
“They have added the likes of a very talented Paul Murphy and Danny Ledwith as well as Aidan Friel who was one of the best players in the First Division last year. We will, as always, have our work cut out to stay with Wexford,” he added.
Meanwhile, Horgan will be watching from the stands as a result of being banned for one-match ban following an incident near the end of the recent game against St Patrick’s Athletic at Finn Park.
Wexford’s home form has not been great, having won just once – against Bray Wanderers – and losing to Dundalk, Longford Town and Galway United.
Harps, meanwhile, have picked up just one point on their travels to date, in Sligo, and Horgan will be hopeful that his side can take something from this game.
Wexford are joint bottom along with Longford Town going into this game. Defeat against Harps would leave them eight points adrift of the Donegal side.
Even if Harps win, they will not climb any higher than their current seventh spot on the league ladder.
In the 31 previous meetings between the sides, there have been 81 goals shared between the sides and there has only ever been one scoreless draw.
