St Patrick's 1 Finn Harps 0
A second half goal from Marcus Hallows was enough to secure all three points for St. Patrick's Athletic against Finn Harps last weekend, but Harps boss Gavin Dykes was extremely disappointed not to have taken a share of the spoils.
His team was not helped by the dismissal of left back Jonathan Minnock, reported in some quarters as a 'head butting exchange.'

The Harps boss insisted though that the red card was harsh and said the Harps man had not made contact with Ger McCarthy who also received his marching orders.
'There was a bad tackle and the two squared up to each other, but there was no contact and I think the decision was harsh,' Dykes said after the game.
It's the second red card Harps have picked up in recent weeks, with Fergal Harkin dismissed in Longford and now ineligible for the cup clash with Galway.

Incidentally Harps were without star striker James Mulligan on Friday night, also as a result of suspension, and the lack of a cutting edge proved costly in the end.
On the plus side Dykes welcomed Shane Bradley back to first team action, but while it looked for a while as if the tactic of setting out his stall for a draw would pay off, in the end Harps were undone by former Sligo star Hallows.

That goal came in the 63rd minute following a corner for Des Byrne, something Dykes was again fuming at.

'We should have won in the Morton Stadium and we only drew because of bad defending from set pieces, then we should have taken a point from Pats and we lost. I thought we had it sussed but we'll have to take a look at things again and tighten up.'
That work will have to be undertaken this week as a matter of urgency with title chasers Shelbourne due to arrive in Ballybofey for what for Harps is a vital clash.
Last week's defeat has seen Harps drop back into the bottom three and while they'll be desperate for a win against the league leaders, they'll know that they're unlikely to face a sterner test in their battle for survival.

With that in mind James Mulligan will certainly return to partner Mike Turner in attack, but not until Dykes decides on whether to deploy a 3-5-3 formation or a 4-4-2, will it become clear who will make way for the Harps scoring ace.
Brian McKenna who was in fine form at the weekend will start as usual in goal with Mohan and Minnock again slotting into the full back positions.
'I knew when I took over that we'd be in the bottom half battling for points, but we will get out. The players know what they have to do and I'm confident that we will survive,' Dykes said.

Harps have a decent record against Shelbourne in recent seasons, but the Dubliners managed by fomrer Harps boss Dermot Keely, have lost only once this season and will certainly be determined to maintain that record.

St Patrick's Ath: Wood; Burke, Lynch, McGuinness, Prenderville; Devereux, Osam, Hawkins, Drew; McCarthy, McNevin. Subs: Hallows for Devereux (half-time), Byrne for Drew (58 mins), Gormley for Prenderville (71 mins).

Finn Harps: McKenna; Bradley, Minnock, Boyle, Dykes, Mohan; Tierney, McGranaghan, Harkin; Kenny, Turner.
Referee: G Perry (Dublin).