National cups are something special for many teams and supporters. Today's match will decide whether it's Finn Harps or St Patrick's that keep their silverware dream alive.
There’s little time for restitution or working hard at the training pitch these days, with both teams having played their last game less than four days ago.
Finn Harps form and stats
Finn Harps was eliminated in the 1st round last season in the FAI Cup.Finn Harps have played three Premier Division home games so far, perhaps enough to set expectations for the season. In that case, only 3 points from these matches could be a signal of rough times ahead. It's trouble wherever Harps are playing these days as they have suffered five straight defeats now, regardless of arena. They really need to get back to winning ways. Two defeats in a row at home hurts for Harps, their manager O. Horgan and the supporters. There are certain expectations for improvement.
Harps haven't scored a league goal since they found the net 231 minutes ago. K. O'Sullivan scored that one.
The fans are hoping that Harps will strike back in this match, putting things right after the 0-2 away loss in the Premier Division game against St Patrick's. Before that game, the home loss against Shelbourne with the scoreline 0-1.
Another home game is coming up fairly shortly for the hosts, as Derry City are coming to town in four days.
Harps have scored 1 goal here in 3 league matches, a depressing statistic. Defensively it’s touch-and-go for the home team as 5 goals have been conceded.
St Patrick's form and stats
Patrick's's mission in FAI Cup last season failed in the 2nd round.Things could have gone better for St Patrick's in their Premier Division away matches, but 4 points from 3 games is all right.
Patrick's had fun at their own home (Finn Park) last time out, beating Finn Harps 2-0. G. Kelly (2) scored. The game before that, in the Premier Division, was lost at home, a 0-2 defeat against Derry City.
A new game in only four days for Patrick's, the Premier Division home match versus Sligo Rovers. Busy days.
Scoring goals is the main ingredient in creating success in football, and not only at home. So far St Patrick's have scored 3 goals in 3 league games away. It's not easy to score on Patrick's as they have only conceded 2 goals from these away games.
Head 2 Head
Head-2-head stats last ten meetings: two - two - six (Finn Harps wins - draws - St Patrick's wins). As for goals, five matches ended with three or more goals (over 2,5), five had two or less.Top Goalscorers
  K. O’Sullivan 2 goals |   G. Kelly 2 goals | R. Connolly 1 goals |
Finn Harps missing players
St Patrick's missing players
| Finn Harps | St Patrick's | ||||||
| Total | Home | Statistics | Stat | Away | Total | ||
| 25 | 11 | Played | P | 14 | 25 | ||
| 7 | 5 | Won | W | 8 | 13 | ||
| 4 | 2 | Drew | D | 3 | 5 | ||
| 14 | 4 | Lost | L | 3 | 7 | ||
| 13 | 7 | Scored | S | 22 | 33 | ||
| 35 | 9 | Conceded | C | 14 | 22 | ||
| 88% | 82% | Over 0.5 | O 0.5 | 86% | 84% | ||
| 48% | 36% | Over 1.5 | O 1.5 | 64% | 60% | ||
| 32% | 18% | Over 2.5 | O 2.5 | 50% | 40% | ||
| 20% | 9% | Over 3.5 | O 3.5 | 36% | 24% | ||
| 4% | 0% | Over 4.5 | O 4.5 | 7% | 4% | ||
| 20% | 9% | BTTS | BTTS | 50% | 36% | ||
| 36% | 64% | Clean Sheets | C S | 36% | 40% | ||
| 56% | 45% | Failed to Score | F T | 29% | 40% | ||
| 3.1 | 3.6 | Corners for (avg) | C F | 4.6 | 5 | ||
| 4.8 | 3.5 | Corners against (avg) | C A | 4.7 | 3.5 | ||
| 2 | 1.7 | Yellow cards (avg) | Y C | 2 | 2 | ||
| 1 | 0 | Red cards | R C | 2 | 3 | ||
| 155 | 57 | Total Shots | T S | 136 | 276 | ||
| 59 | 26 | Shots on Target | S O | 59 | 106 | ||
| 17% | 23% | Goal Efficiency | G E | 32% | 28% | ||
| Total | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||||
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | P |
| 1 | Shamrock Rovers | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 13 | 18 |
| 2 | Bohemians | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 15 |
| 3 | Dundalk | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 14 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 6 | 7 | 13 |
| 4 | St Patrick's | 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 10 |
| 5 | Shelbourne | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | -1 | 9 |
| 6 | Waterford United | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | -1 | 9 |
| 7 | Derry City | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 7 |
| 8 | Finn Harps | 7 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 12 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 7 | -9 | 4 |
| 9 | Sligo Rovers | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | -4 | 3 |
| 10 | Cork City | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 12 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 10 | -11 | 3 |