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Finn Harps come into this one with a decent home base, still unbeaten at home in the league with one win and two draws from three, but their overall numbers are only modest and they have already been exposed twice in seven league games. They have also conceded in four of their five home matches across all competitions listed here, which is a concern against the division leaders.
Cork City arrive unbeaten in the league and have won six of their seven First Division games, with an away record of two wins and a draw and only two goals conceded on the road. They have also found the net first in eight straight league matches, so they usually put opponents under pressure early and protect a lead well.
The recent scoring pattern points more towards Cork City than a low-risk home resistance. Finn Harps have been involved in a run of tight games, including a 1-0 win at Longford Town and a 1-0 defeat at Kerry FC, but they have also drawn 2-2 and 1-1 at home. Cork City, meanwhile, have scored at least twice in two of their last three league wins, including a 4-1 home victory over Athlone Town, which is stronger attacking form than Finn Harps have matched.
Head-to-head also leans Cork City’s way, with the visitors unbeaten in six meetings and Finn Harps failing to keep a clean sheet in all six of those games. The one slight note of caution is that the recent meeting trend has often been competitive rather than one-sided, so an away win by a narrow margin is more in keeping with the evidence than anything comfortable.
My prediction is Away Win at 2/5. Cork City are unbeaten in the league, have won six of seven, and have taken two wins and a draw from three away matches. Finn Harps have only one home win in the league so far, while Cork City have conceded just two away goals, which gives them the edge even if the 1-2 scoreline leaves a little room for resistance.
