Finn Harps captain Kevin McHugh. Photo: Gary Foy
BY CHRIS MCNULTY
FINN Harps look set to be without Kevin McHugh, Thomas McMonagle and Johnny Bonner for this evening’s FAI Ford Cup third round replay with Cobh Ramblers (St Colman’s Park, kick-off 8pm).
Harps make the long trip south after John Meade’s injury time equaliser cancelled out McHugh’s early opener on Friday night in Ballybofey.
McHugh limped off with a hamstring injury in the 83rd minute and, at the same time, centre-back McMonagle was forced off suffering from a toe injury.
“At this stage, both of them will be out, the recovery time is just too short given the injuries they’ve picked up,” Harps manager Peter Hutton said, while Bonner is troubled by a knee injury that makes him ‘really doubtful’. Josh Mailey and Aaron O’Hagan are the front runners for inclusion in
McMonagle’s absence, while Sean McCarron could be in line for a recall in attack. McCarron, though, has his own fitness fears.
“Sean has been suffering from flu over the last couple of weeks and has been low on iron,” Hutton said. “He’s been taking iron tablets, but he’s looking sharp in what he’s been doing at training. He’s itching to get back in.”
Were McCarron also to sit this one out, it would mean that Harps would be without the scorers of 16 of the 31 goals they’ve netted this season.
The extra trip today means that Harps are in Cobh twice this week as they also travel on Saturday for a League game, putting an additional financial burden on the cash-strapped club.
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