By Chris Ashmore
There will be a distinctive Derry City influence in this weekend’s north-west derby between Finn Harps and Sligo Rovers, arguably the biggest derby game ever between the two teams.
Issuing instructions to the Finn Harps players will be Candy Striped legend Paul Hegarty, who, alongside Harps manager Ollie Horgan, will be hoping to lead Harps to a victory which could ensure survival in the Premier Division this season.
On the other side however, will be former City captain Kevin Deery, who joined up with Sligo boss Gerard Lyttle earlier this week, joining as his assistant until the end of the season.
"I want to try and make a positive impact on the team and be myself around the place,” Deery told the Bit o'Red's official website this week. “I'm delighted to be here to work at such a fine club like Sligo Rovers."There are big games coming up immediately so we'll be working hard and I've no doubt there's a huge battle ahead for every team in the bottom half of the table. But I'm excited at the chance to work with Gerard and the players and we'll be giving it our all to keep the club in the top-flight."
Reality
The blunt reality is that if either side loses they will edge even close to the relegation trap door.
The flip side is that a victory would represent a huge boost and could be the springboard for survival.
It really is a game that neither side can afford to lose, and consequently it would be no major surprise if the points are shared.
Indeed, Sligo Rovers come to Finn Park on Saturday on a six match unbeaten league run that has seen them win once and draw five times.
However, they haven’t played a league game since August 18 when they shocked Cork City with a 1-0 win at Turner’s Cross.
But they did play Falkirk in the Scottish Irn Bru Cup, losing out 2-1 at the Showgrounds.
Sligo have struggled since early in the season, and away from home they have managed to win just once in the league, and have scored only nine times while conceding 25.
Harps will move five points ahead of them if they can win.
But Haros manager Ollie Horgan reckons that the Bit o’ Red have come on in recent weeks, and he is expecting a really tough game.
Among the players that Horgan picks out for special mention is Scottish midfielder Rhys McCabe, who was the second signing made after Gerard Lyttle took over as manager of the Showgrounds side.
Horgan rates the former Dunfermline, Sheffield Wednesday, Portsmouth and Rangers man as a “top quality” player.
Another man that Horgan picks out as a potential threat is the seasoned Vinny Faherty, who has been a thorn in the side for Harps previously, not least when he was with Galway.
Speaking to the Post, Horgan admitted that he would be happy to “take a point” from this, a target that some may question given that Harps are at home. But, at this stage of the season, every point is hard earned, and every point is one more nearer safety. It would also keep Harps ahead of their neighbours.
Horgan will have to wait until the usual release of news regarding suspensions today (Wednesday) before he starts finalising plans for his starting eleven.
There is a strong likelihood of Eddie Dsane and Ibrahim Keita being named in attack.
Harps’ last home league victory was the impressive 2-1 success over Bohemians in July.
Looking ahead to the Sligo game, Horgan pointed out that the last time they had a chance to try and put a bit of daylight between themselves and their relegation threatened rivals, they blew it as they lost 2-1 at home to Galway.
He will be hoping that another reverse is not on the cards against Rovers.
Harps beat Sligo 2-10 at Finn Park back in March while it was a scoreless draw in the Showgrounds in June. Sligo beat Harps in Ballybofey in a League Cup game that will be remembered most for the fact that three Harps players – BJ Banda, Harry Doherty and Packie Mailey - sustained nasty injuries which led them all being taken to hospital by ambulance.
The Sligo squad has several notable Donegal natives, including goalkeeper Shaun Patton, defender Kyle McFadden and midfielder Jack Keaney.
Meanwhile, League champions Dundalk will face Shamrock Rovers in the semi-final of the FAI Cup on October 1st.
It will be a repeat of this Saturday’s EA Sports Cup final at Tallaght Stadium with the season's first silverware up for grabs.
In the other semi-final, the holders Cork City will host Limerick in the Munster derby at Turner's Cross on Friday, September 29th with a kick-off time of 7.15pm.
Both games will be shown live on RTÉ2.
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