Airtricity League First Division
BY LIAM PORTER
WATERFORD United may be sitting at the bottom of the First Division some thirty points adrift of second place Finn Harps, but that doesn’t mean there’s any room for complacency ahead of their visit to Ballybofey on Saturday night says Harps boss Ollie Horgan.
Indeed, while Harps were in Cabinteely claiming another precious three points last weekend, Waterford pushed neighbours Wexford Youths all the way before Danny Furlong’s brace eventually sealed the win for the league leaders.
“Waterford are a decent side. They brought in new players during the transfer window and they play a nice style of football, something very akin to the style UCD play. They won against Athlone and they really should have got something from last week’s game against Wexford.”
The new signings brought in by Roddy Collins may well have been signed with one eye on next year, but Horgan insists the men from the South East will give Harps plenty to think about on Saturday night.
“The four players Waterford brought in are decent players, they play excellent football and they will be a handful.Waterford might have one eye on next season, but that doesn’t mean they won’t have en eye on taking points off us in Ballybofey and we’ll have to be at our best to beat them.”
While Horgan would love a good performance and a victory, winning at this point in a campaign really is the priority. That’s why last weekend’s victory in Cabinteely was such a boost, despite the fact the Dubliners made it hard work for Harps to the very end.
“It really was a game of two halves. We totally dominated the first half when we scored three goals, but they dominated the second and scored two, but what was really important was that we won. It would have been worse to have played really well and still dropped points, like we did when we went there earlier in the season and dominated the game only to concede a late equaliser.”
Not only did Harps manage to take all three points, they also found the net three times, something of a rarity this season. “It was good to get a few goals and to get two from play as well. We had only managed one in four games before that and that was from the penalty spot, so it was good to get some goals. We know we need to add goals to our games and that’ll be vital in the run-in.”
A win for Harps at the weekend would keep them nicely in contention with Wexford and UCD to face each other twice in the run in and both also due to visit Finn Park in the run-in. Fourth place Shelbourne are still well placed to take advantage of any slips and Horgan expects there to be some twists and turns along the way. “We know that we have to keep winning, but that’s easier said than done. There’s a lot of football to be played yet and we have to just keep plugging away and see where we are at the end.”
Horgan welcomes back Matt Crossan from suspension for Saturday night’s game but Packie Mailey misses out once again with injury.