Finn Harps Promotion/Relegation Play Off 2/11/15 - 6/11/15

[NeverFeltBetter]

Just to break off from the Sligo thread, which has been badly derailed.

I think the Limerick set-up got too relaxed before the Derry game, and I'd hate to see the same thing happen again on Monday (sort of why I was a bit put out by POS celebrations on the pitch). Harps will know the Limerick defence is dodgy - you can bet they'll have spent a lot of today pouring over the Sligo game thanks to RTE - and they'll have a right go at Kanyuka if he plays. He makes bad decisions constantly, whether its in his clearances or when he chooses to foul, and Harps are going to try and exploit that. Indeed, any time Limerick make any kind of pass in their third you can bet Harps will be all over them trying to force an error.

Lynch back in I think, but if Tracy is dropped to facilitate Sean Russell in defence I'm going to get really annoyed...

If Limerick play like they did against Sligo, they should win, but no way Finn Harps don't score in MF I feel.

[Lim till i die]

What formation do you think we'll play?

[nigel-harps1954]

Personally, I'd be happy with 0-0 going back to Finn Park and I think that's the game we'll be set up to play.

[Lim till i die]

We should be putting these away handy enough preferably in the first leg as I can't travel Friday.

Granted haven't seen them play in a couple of years but lookin at that squad suggests the first division is terrible rather than harps being especially good.

They'll probably butcher us but class should out.

Probably be a 2 all draw in Limerick and we 'll win something like 7 5 in Ballybofey.

[NeverFeltBetter]

Personally, I'd be happy with 0-0 going back to Finn Park and I think that's the game we'll be set up to play.

You think? No away goals rule I know, but think it would be strange for Harps to not try and score in MF considering how bad the defence has been at times for Limerick over the last few games.

[nigel-harps1954]

You think? No away goals rule I know, but think it would be strange for Harps to not try and score in MF considering how bad the defence has been at times for Limerick over the last few games.

Harps away record this season hasn't been too great though. Only 6 wins in 14 games away from home. Our home record had us second in the table.

Our 3-5-2/5-3-2 formation won't suit the bigger pitch as we play an awful lot through the middle. The Finn Park pitch was narrowed for UCD to restrict them from playing wide football.

We're well capable of playing some great football at times, but we're also excellent at frustrating and restricting teams to negative rubbish. Expecting a scrappy affair in MF and a more attacking game in Finn Park.

[bluewhitearmy]

A lot easier for ye to sit back and defend against far weaker teams than us in the first division though and on tight pitches the size of our pitch and with people like Clarke and Turner in our team I think it could be a dangerous think for Harps to come and try to just soak up pressure. I have seen Harps once or twice this season nowhere near enough to be able to judge them accurately but they seemed not too different to the Harps teams I was used to seeing in the first division.

I really hope we can have this put away before we need to go to Ballybofey as I really don't fancy that long of a trip while being a nervous wreck Sligo was bad enough.

[nigel-harps1954]

Miles different to previous Harps teams. Horgan has done a wonderful job and it's as hard working and positive a Harps team I've seen since out last promotion season.

[LFC Blue]

I think he'll go with the same 11 and introduce Lynch maybe around the 55 minute mark. Sean Russell was excellent in the middle Friday night and deserves to stay there. Lynch could really stretch a tiring Harps when introduced with a point to prove after his recent dip. Expect a massive crowd. The televised game has done wonders for our profile. Everyone I meet is going. Expect the railings to be 10 deep and a crowd of 4k plus.

[bluewhitearmy]

Miles different to previous Harps teams. Horgan has done a wonderful job and it's as hard working and positive a Harps team I've seen since out last promotion season.

Like I said I hadn't seen enough to make a real judgement just the 2 games I seen it was the same as before solid tough team with one or two ball players thrown in. I'd much rather be playing UCD tbh but I wonder has playing against better opposition all season helped us considering some of the crap Harps have gone up against.

[nigel-harps1954]

That's the fear for us. We've not faced any real quality this season beyond Wexford, UCD and two games v Longford.

It's got tougher for us with the news of an extended injury list coming to the fore. This could be fun.

[bluewhitearmy]

That's the fear for us. We've not faced any real quality this season beyond and UCD, twWexfordUCDup games against Longford as good as it got after that.

It's gotten a lot tougher for us with the news of an extended injury list coming to the fore. This could be fun.

Ah that is probably the old highly doubtful but will 100% be playing type of news though. I am really looking forward to these 2 games. Will ye bring many down tomorrow? Awful day for ye to have to travel.

[nigel-harps1954]

Nope, Nathan Boyle struggled through Friday. He's finished this season supposedly.

McHugh hobbled off injured on Friday.

Foy requires surgery on his knee at the end of the season anyway.

McNulty is just back from a shoulder problem, took a knock in both UCD games.

Josh Mailey was actually hurt in goal celebrations

[nigel-harps1954]

Hard to know with Harps crowds too. A lot of people driving, not too many bus numbers yet. I say there'll be close to 100 down. Terrible night for it.

[gael353]

Nope, Nathan Boyle struggled through Friday. He's finished this season supposedly. edit he'll play in both games you watch

McHugh hobbled off injured on Friday. edit: Means nothing he'll play in both games

Foy requires surgery on his knee at the end of the season anyway. edit: so he'll play in two more games this week

McNulty is just back from a shoulder problem, took a knock in both UCD games. edit: so he'll play in both games having recovered

Josh Mailey was actually hurt in goal celebrations edit :lol he'll be grand

[Sam_Heggy]

McNulty spent last Friday night in hospital after the UCD game. He's hard as nails though and while he probably should be sitting out the game, I'd say he will play.

After that, Lord knows.

[bluewhitearmy]

Hard to know with Harps crowds too. A lot of people driving, not too many bus numbers yet. I say there'll be close to 100 down. Terrible night for it.

Ya tbh I was praying for a UCD win if we had to be away first its an awful trip to have to make of a Monday.

[Lim till i die]

The Facebook attendance for this event just passed the one for the opening night against drogs. If you're less than 6 foot tall get there early!

[nigel-harps1954]

How much does the away stand hold? The sold out signs could go up tomorrow night. It'll be a great occasion nonetheless.

[Lim till i die]

300 and something. They'll put home fans in the rest of the seats if harps don't fill it

[nigel-harps1954]

300 and something. They'll put home fans in the rest of the seats if harps don't fill it

No danger of that happening, whatever the event controller says. There'll be a maximum of 100 travelling. 33 seater bus going, couple of cars coming from Dublin, and a heap of cars from Donegal. If it tops 100 I'll be shocked.

[joey B]

Such a pity one of the tv channels didn't pick this one up would be a great spectacle for the tv I think!!

[nigel-harps1954]

McGettigans in Limerick are running a promotion on Monday night to celebrate Harps coming to town. Anyone wearing either club jersey and presents their match ticket will receive a 20% discount. Handy if you're getting a decent round of drinks in.

[Town Legend]

We should be putting these away handy enough preferably in the first leg as I can't travel Friday.

Harps are a dogged team and I'd be very surprised if this game was finished after the first leg. But a lot will depend on how strong a squad Harps can bring with them with all the injury doubts.

[Sam_Heggy]

Any of ye fine ladies or gentlemen able to give simple directions to the ground and advise us where is best to be parking tonight?

[osarusan]

Where are you coming from? Will you get into the city centre first, and head to the ground?

The ground is in the Garryowen area, basically across from the prison and mental hospital. It is on Mulgrave street, which is what William Street becomes at the end of it. William street runs off the main street which is O'Connell street.

I never park there, but even though there are restrictions I'd imagine it will be fairly packed tonight. You'd be better off parking closer to the city centre (after 5pm/6pm most street parking will be free) and walking to the ground.

[nigel-harps1954]

Assume those coming from the M7 will be best going down the old Dublin road and parking somewhere along there to walk the rest of the way?

[Sam_Heggy]

Where are you coming from? Will you get into the city centre first, and head to the ground?

The ground is in the Garryowen area, basically across from the prison and mental hospital. It is on Mulgrave street, which is what William Street becomes at the end of it. William street runs off the main street which is O'Connell street.

I never park there, but even though there are restrictions I'd imagine it will be fairly packed tonight. You'd be better off parking closer to the city centre (after 5pm/6pm most street parking will be free) and walking to the ground.

Will be coming via Galway direction.

Was thinking of going down the by-pass road and heading in towards Roxborough?? Or are we better coming in a different way?

[Jofspring]

Can they promote the match more? The promotion is sorely lacking.

By the looks of it promotion is not needed at all. Queues outside the markets field for tickets at the moment.

[Jofspring]

Will be coming via Galway direction.

Was thinking of going down the by-pass road and heading in towards Roxborough?? Or are we better coming in a different way?


Roxborough would be a good idea. If you come in by the Maldron Hotel. Turn Right at the lights. At the roundabout take the second exit (straight through), at the next roundabout again go straight through. At the third roundabout take the first exit and drive straight in that road. After about 2km the Markets Field will be on your right.

[osarusan]

Roxborough would be a good idea. If you come in by the Maldron Hotel. Turn Right at the lights. At the roundabout take the second exit (straight through), at the next roundabout again go straight through. At the third roundabout take the first exit and drive straight in that road. After about 2km the Markets Field will be on your right.

Exactly this, except be aware that the pitch is set back from the road, behind other buildings - there are narrower roads down to it on either side, but they'll be closed off.

As I said before, when you can see on your left some green spaces and a building complex of old stone buildings (that's the mental hospital) , followed by a prison (barbed wire round it), then the pitch is across from those.

Or course it may already be dark then! Just look out for a building called Limerick College of Further Education - that back of that is the dividing wall between that and the pitch touchline.

[osarusan]

This picture may help.

The beige building in front of the pitch is the college, and the complex (you can only see a bit of it) directly across the road is the prison. As you drive in following Jofspring's directions, you'll be on the road which cuts across the bottom right corner of the picture, and the college will be on the right. You can see both narrower roads here, but they'll be closed.

http://openhouselimerick.ie/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/15_14.png

[Jofspring]

North Stand - Sold Out

[thomas72]

I never thought I see the day ques to get a tickets for Limerick fc and selling out a game.
Just goes to show you the potential if we challenged for major honours.

With the extra terrace opened up beside the main stand what is our capacity for tonight any care to guess.

[LK37oldskool]

3,500 - 4,000? They could have done with opening the green banks behind the city end and on the popular side. If we stay up they will have to seriously look at opening those up properly for next season with the interest around town.

[Jofspring]

Official Capacity is around the 3,500 mark. I'd imagine they will have to stick to that fairly strictly.

The problem with the banks is they are technically not safe yet and are an insurance claiming waiting to happen if they opened them at the moment. The dugouts cause an awful obstruction on that side also.

[NeverFeltBetter]

There were queues the day MF opened as I recall, but looks like they'll be a much bigger crowd tonight.

[bluewhitearmy]

The buzz this morning is like nothing I have ever seen around Limerick for LOI.

[ForzaHoop]

COME ON THE HARPS - THE North West needs the Premier league :)

[Treaty Gooner]

Mission half accomplished. Would've liked a two goal cushion but Harps looked way off it, except for the chances created from our mistakes. What a crowd, must have been close to 4000?

[thomas72]

Was told just over 5,000 both stands full new terrace beside stand opened up jammed

[thomas72]

I thought harps bang average I hope that doesn't come back to haunt me but they offered nothing.
With them having to.come out now and try and score I fancy us to score a couple

[NeverFeltBetter]

I was only listening on the radio, but it seemed like Harps had a good few chances, including one great one late on. While they may have come from Limerick mistakes, you can bet that will carry through to Ballybofey.

[nigel-harps1954]

Harps missed two open nets and had a stonewall penalty turned down. We done what we set up to do, frustrate Limerick and defend. We take a slender disadvantage to Finn Park and will play an entirely different game. Set up for a photo finish.

Also, quick shout to the shoddy treatment of Harps fans by the stewards. It's a brilliant stadium, but facilities for away fans are crap. One portaloo for men, one for women. 11 euro for a burger and a bottle of water. No segregation and half the away section filled with home fans leaving no seats for half the Harps crowd who travelled, scoffed at by the head steward when it was pointed out to him. Bus broke down carrying 33 Harps fans, the stewards were made aware of it, but they started letting more home fans into the away section and claiming Harps fans were in the wrong.

Finn Park isn't exactly the Camp Nou, but you'd never get treatment like we got tonight there.

[Acornvilla]

Harps missed two open nets and had a stonewall penalty turned down. We done what we set up to do, frustrate Limerick and defend. We take a slender disadvantage to Finn Park and will play an entirely different game. Set up for a photo finish.

Also, quick shout to the shoddy treatment of Harps fans by the stewards. It's a brilliant stadium, but facilities for away fans are crap. One portaloo for men, one for women. 11 euro for a burger and a bottle of water. No segregation and half the away section filled with home fans leaving no seats for half the Harps crowd who travelled, scoffed at by the head steward when it was pointed out to him. Bus broke down carrying 33 Harps fans, the stewards were made aware of it, but they started letting more home fans into the away section and claiming Harps fans were in the wrong.

Finn Park isn't exactly the Camp Nou, but you'd never get treatment like we got tonight there.

On the balance of play Limerick should have won by a larger margin, but the match could easily have been something mad like 3-2. I gave a more complete analysis of the match in the main forum so I'll just c/p it below.


Harps are very good at kicking the ball 50 yards in the air, and even better at kicking people. Limerick should have had the game dead and buried by half time.

Harps came more in to the match as both sides tired, missed an absolute sitter when Hall went walkabouts, and it probably was a peno. On the other hand, the harps right back should have been sent off, was good for at least 3 yellows if you count the amount of times fouls were made, two were blatant, one which he was carded for.

Massive crowd, I don't think it was 5k personally, but I couldn't see how many were on terraces to the left of the stand, so maybe it's possible. Limerick might struggle on a narrower pitch in the 2nd leg, but they should never lose to harps over two legs, there's a big gulf in footballing ability. You'd just worry about their ability to do all sorts of nonsense in defense.

On an aside, some sections of the crowd were so, so negative, and very vocal about it, jeering the players when they had the temerity to pass backwards and retain possession, I'm all for seizing the initiative and trying to win the game by more, Limerick were so obviously knackered and incapable of really stretching the game beyond the 60 min mark, still getting decent chances, but getting a fair amount of stick when they weren't piling men forward.

Sorry to hear about how you were treated, it's completely unacceptable, I don't think the club really know how to deal with big crowds yet, there's plenty of niggles that annoy me, let alone crap like that.

Safe trip home.

[bluewhitearmy]

Speaking of facilities where will Limerick fans be placed Friday because the only 2 choices really are on a terrace in the cowshed with no seats at all or on an open terrace isn't it?

[nigel-harps1954]

Limerick fans will be on the away terrace, the gantry side of the ground. Seats are available to anyone who wants a seat though.

[joey B]

You'll be put on the gantry side towards the river end of the ground,bring a jacket and an umbrella !!

[Lims4ever]

Should have scored at least 2 or 3 played well first half got tired second half which is to be expected with the short turn around , Harps looked very average indeed will be disappointed if Limerick go out overall to them the ref did no favours to the game should have started showing the yellow cards much earlier persistent fouling all night by harps . How anyone can think Kelly should have got a red it was a great tackle. Looking at the pitch from the highlights of harps v ucd not going to do Limerick any favours it looks terrible it will be a night of hoof ball. What a crowd fantastic to see the place full the club needs to stay up and will get stronger and stronger over the next few years

[nigel-harps1954]

Should have scored at least 2 or 3 played well first half got tired second half which is to be expected with the short turn around , Harps looked very average indeed will be disappointed if Limerick go out overall to them the ref did no favours to the game should have started showing the yellow cards much earlier persistent fouling all night by harps . How anyone can think Kelly should have got a red it was a great tackle. Looking at the pitch from the highlights of harps v ucd not going to do Limerick any favours it looks terrible it will be a night of hoof ball. What a crowd fantastic to see the place full the club needs to stay up and will get stronger and stronger over the next few years

Wow. Really?