Cup replay: City v Harps preview
fai.ie
City favourites - 09 September 2002
Cork City will start hot favourites to join Bohemians, Derry City and Shamrock Rovers in the FAI Carlsberg Cup semi-finals when they play host to Finn Harps in Tuesday's quarter-final replay before another bumper crowd at Turners Cross (kick-off 7:45).
City boss Liam Murphy will field an unchanged side from that which forced a replay in Saturday's 1-1 draw between the sides at Finn Park, Ballybofey. That means that striker James Mulligan again has to be satisfied with a place on the substitutes' bench.
Michael Mulconry continues in the left back role as Neal Horgan has entered hospital for a knee operation. Murphy has warned Cork fans that Harps will not lie down easily and that his team must be totally focussed for the 90 minutes.
"Harps have some very experienced players and were unlucky to be relegated from the Premier Duvision a couple of years ago and then just miss out on promotion last season.
"In that first game up in Donegal we created a lot of chances and hit the woodwork twice as well as having a couple of chances cleared off the line. Then Harps keeper Alan Young pulled off an unbelievable save to deny George O'Callaghan a second goal late in the game," said Murphy.
First Division Harps, who face an arduous 700 miles round trip by road, will be without key midfielder Donal O'Brien because of work commitments. Player-manager Jonathan Speak will have to make several changes as fellow midfielder Tom Mohan is almost certainly ruled out with a back injury. Striker Kevin McHugh, a late substitute in the Ballybofey clash, is likely to partner Speak in attack with Neil Lloyd moved back to the centre of midfield to partner Paddy McGrenaghan. Niall Bonner is the likely candidate for the vacant left wing spot.
Harps boss Speak believes that if midfielder Jonathan Minnock had scored a 59th minute penalty, his team were certain of a semi-final place as they led 1-0 at that stage after Minnock had scored with a free kick eight minutes earlier.
"We were a bit disappointed not to have done it and while Cork will be fancied, we are not going down to Turners Cross just to make up the numbers.That penalty was the turning point - if we had gone 2-0 up , it would have been very difficult for Cork to come back," said Speak
Should the sides be level at the end of 90 minutes, a total of 30 minutes extra time will be played - and then - if necessary, a penalty shoot-out will decide the outcome.
Odds: Paddypower (90mins)
Cork City 4/9
Draw 13/5
Finn Harps 11/2
