Harps claw towards safety? - February 27,
2001
Kilkenny City v Finn Harps 19:45
The churches in Ballybofey are packed this afternoon as Finn Harps pray that their Eircom premier game against Kilkenny City tonight can go ahead! The game couldn't have come at a better time for Harps, who are on the verge of an unlikely Houdini act.
The Donegal side have been second from bottom all season and looked dead and buried. But five successive league draws since Jonathan Speak took over as caretaker boss have seen them claw their way inch by inch towards safety.
UCD, the team above them, are in freefall. The gap is down to six points, Harps have a game in hand - and that game is tonight, against the only club below them in the table!
A win tonight and Harps will go into the weekend breathing down UCD's neck and set up a head-to-head six pointer on March 11.
There hasn't been a bad time to play Kilkenny all season - but now is the best time of all. The Cats have given up on the league all together and are concentrating their efforts on the weekend's FAI Cup quarter-final against Bohemians. No-one will be looking to pick up a knock tonight.
Gavin Wilkinson, Richie Purdy, Brian Jackson and Davy Mulcahy are all doubtful starters for Kilkenny.
Harps have their own injury worries though with 'keeper Gareth Downey again doubtful, along with Tom Mohan, John Kenny and Neil Fitzhenry.