United v Harps on Monday night

[Claret Murph]

Well after Friday's result I can't see much of a shake up in the team apart from Lester will come in and Liam will have to make do with a seat on the bench .
TC will not make the same mistakes as Friday and I think we will get the result 3-1 with Glynn ( only one goal ) , Wes & Murphy to score for us .

One last thing with the extra game will Murphy's suspension kick in for this game or will it still be for the Rovers game ??????

[Terry]

the suspension is dated from the 21st , I think? so the suspension will still be for the rovers match.

[Mr A]

A match preview and programme preview have now been posted on www.finnharps.com

[GuisaSaigon]

Will there be radio commentary on GBFM or any online Donegal Station?

[Mr A]

Dunno about GBFM, but Highland will carry updates- www.highlandradio.ie Ocean cover us pretty well, but their online stream has not been working recently.

Also, ticketing arrangements have been announced- for anyone traveling up they have the option of picking up tickets in Charlie's Star Bar in Donegal Town. To get there go into Donegal Town and go through the Diamond towards Ballybofey and Charlie's is there on right. No hassle getting tickets around the ground either mind you.

[Paddyfield]

Swiped from www.EircomLOI.ie

Large crowd expected as Harps and United meet again


Finn Harps boss Paul Hegarty believes his side are capable of upsetting the odds by knocking Galway United out of the FAI Ford Cup tonight (Finn Park, kick-off 7.45pm).

The sides face into tonight's replay having drawn their initial meeting 2-2 thanks to a remarkable comeback by the Donegal men.

With Galway leading by two goals, it appeared as though Harps were heading for an early Cup exit. However, two late goals from Conor Gethins and Stephen Parkhouse were enough to secure a replay. Harps are expecting a large turn-out for tonight's game and have advised supporters to purchase tickets prior to the match. A full list of ticketing outlets is printed at the bottom of this story.

The Harps crowd will be hoping that tonight will be a case of history repeating itself. In the first ever FAI Cup meeting between the two sides back in 1998, Galway and Harps played out a 2-2 draw in Terryland Park before Harps eventually won the replay 3-1 at Finn Park.

Harps will have Paul Hegarty back in the dressing room and on the bench for Monday night's replay. The Harps boss had to watch from the stands in Terryland on Friday night as he served a one match touchline ban.

Hegarty will have to plan without the injured trio of Michael Funston, Eloka Asokuh and Marc Brolly. Funston is a long-term absentee but both Asokuh and Brolly limped out of the action in Terryland on Friday.

"We were forced into a couple of changes on Friday", commented the Harps boss. "Luca hurt his groin and had to come off at half-time and we put on Marc Brolly, who then had to come off again five minutes later."

Galway, meanwhile, can take a full squad to Finn Park. The Tribesmen have no injury concerns and midfielder John Lester returns from suspension.

The Harps Manager acknowledges that Galway are probably still favourites to progress, but he doesn't rule out his own sides chance to progress.

"I still think Galway will be the favourites to win the tie", he said. "I think they probably underestimated us a bit on Friday night with them being the Premier Division team but they'll be well prepared for the replay. With them being a full-time club, they'll be well rested, but our boys will be working on Monday and then have to go to play the match at night.

"I think if we get our focus right and show that wee bit of belief and hunger we showed on Friday then the tie is far from over. We can pat ourselves on the back for a job half done or we can go and finish the job off. We have achieved nothing yet because we aren't through, but in saying that if we get our attitude right we can get into the next round. In cup football you never know what can happen and we just have to take it as it comes."

Hegarty said that there are plenty of positives to take from the game.

"I thought we started off a bit nervy. You could look at the negatives from Friday, but I would prefer to look at the positives. The fact that we came from two-nil down against Galway United a Premier Division side was great. We went down there last Friday very confident. We felt that the pitch would be very good and would let us play the football we like. And, Galway were the first to admit that we passed them off the park and played by far the better football."



Finn Harps FC wish to announce that tickets for tonight's Ford FAI Cup replay against Galway United will be on sale at the following outlets around the county from this morning.
· Brian McCormick Sports Letterkenny
· McCauley's Restaurant Lifford
· Charlie's Star Bar Donegal Town
· Books and Charts Dungloe
· Club Office Chestnut Road Ballybofey from 11.00 a.m. until 5.00 p.m.

Supporters are advised to buy their ticket in advance if possible to avoid delays at the ground as a large crowd is expected.

Note that terrace tickets only are available from these outlets. Seated tickets are limited and will only be available at Finn Park on a first come first served basis. Tickets will be available from 6.30pm at the ticket office on Chestnut Road. Fans are advised to come early to ensure a seat.

[gilberto_eire]

ocean fm.... donegal feed doesnt work but am on the sligo part feed and they will be at least giving updates!!....says there going over after this song...gods knows for how long doh..??

[GuisaSaigon]

0-0 19 mins

[GuisaSaigon]

0-0 2 mins left in extra time commentary on www.galwaybayfm.ie

[GuisaSaigon]

penos

[exiled_gufc_fan]

gutted

hopefully we can come back with a win on Friday night.

[gilberto_eire]

well done tony...his great team altering tactics and subs let Harps back into it last week and put us out!!. i wont sing his praises with 3 wins frm 16 games(excluding league cup) all year!!... we were put out by an adverage mid-table 1st division side who went into tonights match after a long days work!!. poor all round and it will be a long season if the new signings arent up to much more then whats there!!.
yet again no-one scored(asides glynn) and this trend is worrying!.
id take a point on friday now after that considering rovers current position!!

[Torn-Ado]

[geezer]

out of it. Only one thing matters this season and that finishing out of the bottom 2. Looking at the crowds at cup matches on tv3 a while ago this competition has had its day anyway

[Ceirtlis]

out of it. Only one thing matters this season and that finishing out of the bottom 2. Looking at the crowds at cup matches on tv3 a while ago this competition has had its day anyway

I wouldnt really agree with ya. A cup run would have been good and with the full time squad this year we should of been able to handle the extra games and it would have generated abit of money. No Europe for another season

[Claret Murph]

Another downer , i feel for the lads who traveled last night as it must have been a long trip home .

[Mr DJ]

Friendly here aren't you? We allow much more from Galway fans on our forum than a gentle slagging...

anyway as to the match, Lads where is all the money you are spending going? Bar Wes Charles I couldn't see one Galway player who would have walked into the Harps team. We are the 1st Division part timers and yet we were the team running at the end of 90 minutes and at the end of extra time, we were fitter than the full timers! That and we were the only team to string more than three passes together. If I was a Galway fan I would ask serious questions of whoever decided these are the right players to go full time with because a full time professional set up doesnt make bad players better. Kinda shocked that a Harps team at its bare bones through injuries and suspensions, with four players playing out of position could look so comfortable against ye. I also would be worried how many times Galway players resorting to hacking down Harps players, a more competent ref (brutal for both sides) would have produced a red or two, your suspensions are bound to be mounting up....
I do hope ye stay up and best of luck for the rest of the season, but I see a struggle ahead.

[corbyeire]

i think a run would have been a good thing - especially money wise - the crowds would turn out for the cup

seems like the heads dropped last friday night - so hopefully they can just get over the cup defeat

also id like to see the team settle a bit - i know there are injuries etc. - but players are moving all over the pitch!

[sligoman]

I was at this game. Have to admit, it was one of, if not, the worst game of football I've ever seen. Was hoping someone would grab a late goal just so it wouldn't go to extra time. Think overall Harps deserved the win, Galway created very little in the first half, improved a bit in the second but it was hard to spot who the Premier team was.

I have a video of Lester's penalty, I'll try and get it on youtube later this evening.

[Mr A]

I think that's a little harsh Sligoman. I think games often seem a lot worse when you don't have direct interest right enough.

There wasn't a lot of chances but it was a hell of a battle and I found it pretty absorbing- and in the end I think it was the team with the slightly greater will to win that progressed. Some great performances from Harps players, especially Gallagher, Roddy and McGowan in the middle.

There were a fair few odd decisions- and all those foul throws was very strange indeed.

Overall I think Harps played the better football and didn't allow Galway to get any real passing going, but that said Galway probably had more clear cut chances. We seemed to grow in stature as the game progressed, and GU's subs weakened the team.

I thought the game was up when the penalties went to 1-1, but as soon as Foley stepped up I suspected he wouldn't score.

Great result for us- the income from a bit of a cup run can make all the difference in a season. Worrying for GU was that they certainly were no fitter than Harps and the weakness of the bench. On the other hand your defence was very good.

I suspect ye'll beat Shamrock Rovers on Friday night.