Cork City chase semi-final spot in Finn Harps clash

After a fortnight on the sidelines, Cork City resurface tonight in Ballybofey for an FAI Cup quarter-final against Finn Harps, kick-off at 7.45pm at Finn Park.

It is a tie that arrives with double meaning. A cup run is always to be cherished, but in the context of their Premier Division struggles, it doubles as a chance to release pressure, and remind themselves what momentum feels like.

The Rebel Army travel north buoyed by the memory of their last outing, a 2-0 league win over Waterford at Turner’s Cross – their first two-goal haul to result in victory in months.

Ger Nash’s side had been plugging away, often without reward in recent games. but that victory carried a sense of renewal, not least because it was accompanied by the sight of teenage striker Matthew Murray scoring and immediately heading off to the Republic of Ireland U19 squad.

It was Waterford again in their FAI Cup round before this, City squeezing through by the skin of their teeth, courtesy of Kaedyn Kamara’s late finish. That night felt like one of those rare occasions this season where this young side under pressure finally found a way to put it together.

Recent history between the clubs points in City’s favour, though it has not always been straightforward. Twelve months ago Harps came to the Cross and built a 2-0 lead by half-time through Tony McNamee and Success Edogun, only for Seani Maguire to drag City back into it and secure a point. On their last trip to Finn Park in April last year, goals from Sean Murray and Jaden Umeh secured a 2-0 victory. Indeed, City went unbeaten across four meetings with Finn Harps in 2024.

And yet, context matters. This year has brought a stark contrast.

ROAD WOBBLES

Nash’s side have yet to win on the road in Premier Division football, a statistic that is undoubtedly why they’re at the bottom of the table. The home comforts of Turner’s Cross have sustained them; outside of it, they have been brittle.

For all that, City will still carry the tag of favourites. A semi-final berth would be significant, not just for dressing-room morale, but for a support base that has grown weary of survival talk.

Harps, though, are not short of their own momentum. Unbeaten at Finn Park since May, they have scalps of note on home turf, First Division leaders Dundalk among them, and have stitched together a cup run on the back of wins over UCD and Bray. Sixth in the First Division, three points shy of the playoff spots, their home form has been the backbone of the season.

City’s injury list remains a nagging issue. Fiacre Kelleher, Harry Nevin, Ruairi Keating and Cathal O’Sullivan are still unavailable. There was some encouragement in the return of Charlie Lyons and Sean Murray against Waterford, but Nash will be aware that his squad is still short of seasoned heads.

If the challenge is to score more, Nash insists the greater battle has been confidence. He was blunt in assessing the Bohs defeat before the break, admitting his young side shrank when falling behind. By contrast, the response against Waterford drew praise.

“[The Bohs defeat] was the first time we've gone behind in a game, and maybe not been in the game,” he said, after the win over Waterford. “Because they were on top, obviously in the first half.

“I felt we reverted back to lacking confidence in ourselves, and that really disappointed me because we worked really hard on that as a group, and I think the group deserved huge credit [after beating Waterford].

“The bravery is the key thing, and the maturity as well. To play under the pressure that we were playing under. I just can't speak highly enough of them.” 

And so to Ballybofey, where the road form and cup hopes collide.