By Ed Leahy
Finn Harps put a huge dent in Shelbourne’s promotion hopes last weekend and will be looking for a similar result on Sunday as they face league champions St Patrick’s Athletic in the FAI Ford Cup semi-final at Richmond Park.
Coming into the game as massive underdogs, the First Division side are looking to shock the Saints in Inchicore to secure an appointment at the Aviva Stadium for this year’s Cup final.
A big ask, perhaps, but the Ballybofey side are quietly confident of upsetting Liam Buckley’s men to reach the blue riband event of Irish football.
Speaking ahead of the game to RTÉ Sport, Harps goalkeeper Conor Winn explained where the confidence is coming from.
“Confidence levels are good and we are coming in off the back of a good result beating Shelbourne. Everyone is looking forward to it and pumped up for it.
“We played very well and any Premier League side would do well to beat Shelbourne 3-2. And they play like St Pat’s so that will help with our confidence.
"We’re going to go for it. It’s going to be a physical game and it’s going to be a tactical game so [Harps boss] Olly [Horgan] has his work cut out for him.”
The Ulster side have reached this stage of the tournament without facing Premier League opposition and only played one First Division side, Wexford Youths, as well as beating two non-league sides.
But Winn is not concerned with how they reached the semi-finals and is focused on causing a shock at the one venue they were hoping to avoid.
“They have got some big stars and it’s the one game we probably wanted to avoid as they are very good at home,” added Winn.
“Everyone is saying we haven’t faced any Premier League sides but we can only beat whoever is in front of us and we have done that. We’re the only First Division side in the semi-finals so we have the whole division behind us, as it looks good for our league as we attempt to get into the final.”
And Winn believes that Harps mid-table obscurity doesn’t do the club justice, as they have been unlucky with their attacking options, which has resulted in far too many draws this season.
Winn said: “We had a few injuries up front as Kevin McHugh was injured at the start of the year, Sean McCarron broke his foot and Rory Keating was banging in the goals early in the season but had to go back to Sligo.
"We’re hard to break down and we’ve kept a good amount of clean sheets" - Conor Winn
“But our back four and midfield have been solid. We’re hard to break down and we’ve kept a good amount of clean sheets.
“And not letting any goals in will be our main agenda. Pat’s have wing backs that will push on and they are very good at attacking, so we’ll be trying to slow everything down and the tight pitch might suit us.”
And the 6'6" keeper dared to dream about what might lie in store should they shock the Saints and reach the final with Winn torn between the prospect of a passionate north-west derby or the chance to take on his former side Shamrock Rovers.
“It would be great for the club. Imagine getting all the Donegal Gaelic supporters coming to the Aviva.
“I would love to play both of them. All the talk in Ballybofey is about those matches against Derry with the rivalry and the crazy atmosphere.
“I’d love to play against Rovers to show them what they are missing out on, but I’d just love to get to the final.
“Finn Harps are a good cup team, they always were and it’s a cup game so you never know what is going to happen in a cup match.”
Watch St Patrick’s Athletic v Finn Harps live on RTÉ2 or worldwide via RTÉ Player on Sunday, 5 October (kick-off 1:45pm)
