Harps set sights on top spot

Harps set sights on top spot

Third-placed Finn Harps can return to the summit of the First Division table on Monday night should they take all three points from their north-west derby clash with jubilant Sligo Rovers at Finn Park. Kick-off: 8.00pm.

Harps were knocked off the top spot this weekend following victories for Dublin City and Bray Wanderers, but can leapfrog those rivals with a win this evening.

But it will be difficult as always to take maximum reward from the visit of - geographically speaking at least - their nearest rivals.

It has been a roller coaster two weeks for the ’Bit o’Red’. Beaten 2-0 at home by bottom of the table Kilkenny City, Sligo bounced back to knock Premier Division leaders Shelbourne out of the FAI in a replay at Tolka Park last Thursday night.

But manager Don O’Riordan knows which side his bread is buttered on and rightly rates Monday trip to Ballybofey of greater significance than his cup win.

The quarter-final draw has paired the Showgrounds side with his old club, Galway United, but for now his focus is clearly on getting Rovers promotion chase back on track.

"The Harps match is a huge one for us," he said. "It’s probably more important than the cup replay. However, we did well against the top team in the country and I would be anxious that we bring that sort of form to Ballybofey, which is always a hard place to go. We set standards for ourselves against Shels and we want to maintain them from here on in."

O’Riordan has David O’Dowd, Jim Sheridan and Gerry Carr all available again, although may be loathe to change a side that performed so admirably in victory over Shels four days ago. Luther Watson is out with a thing strain.

Harps manager Jonathan Speak will recall Neil Lloyd to his side for this evening’s clash. The midfielder, who has completed a ban, will stand in in central midfield in place of Tom Mohan, now serving a ban of his own.


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