Finn Harps manager Ollie Horgan. Photo: Donna El Assaad
BY CHRIS MCNULTY
OLLIE Horgan is set to ring the changes this evening as he takes his out-of-form Finn Harps out west for an EA Sports Cup second round clash with Galway FC (kick-off 5.30pm).
Without a win now in six games, Harps are in need of an injection of confidence from somewhere, but Horgan will resist the temptation to go with his strongest-possible selection
Instead, Horgan is set to test the water with some of those players who have been on the periphery so far.
Gareth Harkin made his first appearance of the campaign as a sub on Friday night against Shamrock Rovers B and he could be in line to make a start this evening at Eamonn Deacy Park, the former Terryland Park.
Canadian-born Graham Fisher’s only start of the season was in the previous round’s 3-2 win over Cockhill Celtic and the midfielder, with just three sub appearances otherwise to his name, is another in line to be in the starting XI.
Carel Tiofack, Mark Forker and Jonny Bonner will be others vying to be elevated into the side.
Horgan said: “We’re down there the following Friday-week in the League. We will be shaking things up for Monday.
“Win, lose or draw against Shamrock Rovers B we’d have shaken it up. There are a lot of lads who haven’t got time on the pitch up until now and they’ll get a little bit of time.
“It’ll be tight in Galway. I watched them last week in Longford. They will be there or thereabouts in the League. We’ll go and enjoy it down there. We’ll try and get something out of it and will try to get a goal to start with.”
Tommy Dunne’s Galway have lost only once in the last five and could start this evening with two familiar faces to Harps fans. St Johnston native Shane McGinty is fighting for a place this evening, as is right-back Marty Owens, who spent some time on loan at Finn Park last season.
This is the first of three away games on the spin for Horgan’s Harps. On Saturday they take on Cobh Ramblers in St Colman’s Park and the following Friday are in Galway for a League game.
The Harps manager said: “The games are coming thick and fast but on a day like today, where you get beaten by a sucker punch, that’s a good thing. At least we aren’t waiting for a couple of weeks moaning and groaning about the performance.”
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