SSE Airtricity League Premier Division: St Patrick's Athletic v Finn Harps (tonight, 7.45pm)
Finn Harps’ home form is likely to dictate whether they can secure the promotion/relegation spot in the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division, according to former captain Declan Boyle.
With nine games to go, the Donegal club currently sits second bottom, two points ahead of basement outfit UCD who will be automatically relegated if they can’t leapfrog over Harps before the end of the campaign.
Harps travel to Dublin this evening to face a St Patrick’s Athletic side who lie fourth in the table, and Boyle feels it will be another uphill battle.
“St Pat’s form has been good and they are pushing for Europe. They are four points behind third placed Dundalk with a game in hand, and are now seven ahead of Sligo in fifth.
“They have quality in midfield and up top and have a very good record against Harps in Inchicore.
“If Harps can get a draw it would be a very good result. I think Derry will beat UCD this weekend so if Harps could get three points ahead of UCD it would be a big result.” he said.
Harps also have a better goal difference, and that could be a factor come the end of the season.
Boyle added: “Harps have five away games left and they will be tough; the home games will be crucial. It’s all to play for but I think they stay ahead of UCD and then worry about the play-off.”
After St Pat’s, Harps face trips to champions Shamrock Rovers, second placed Derry City, Bohemians and Drogheda United.
At home, they still have to play Bohemians, Shelbourne, Dundalk, and finally UCD, in a game that could yet determine the fate of both sides.
Harps go into this evening’s game without the suspended Ryan Connolly and will be hoping to follow up on their 3-2 success against Sligo Rovers last time out.
St Patrick’s Athletic will be full of confidence, with four wins and a draw in their last five league games.
This is the fourth meeting of the sides this season. The Saints won 2-0 in their first and second series of games while in the last match between the sides, Harps came from 2-0 down with five minutes to go to draw 2-2.
One man who won’t be in the panel for Harps this evening is former goalkeeper Mark Anthony McGinley. The first-choice netminder saw a big dip in his form this season and subsequently lost his place. The arrival of former Grimsby Town custodian James McKeown hastened his departure which was confirmed this week.
Meanwhile, St Pat’s record appearance maker Ian Bermingham will leave the club at the end of the season, ending a remarkable 13-year spell with the Inchicore club.
Bermingham, 33, has enjoyed many successes against Harps, and was on the team that thumped the Ballybofey-based club 6-1 in an FAI Cup semi-final back in 2014 in what was Ollie Horgan’s first year in charge of the north-west club.
