LEVER OLL HANDS TO THE PUMP

Finn Harps v Shelbourne

Tonight, 8pm

BY PAUL O’HEHIR

OLLIE HORGAN has called on new leaders to step forward and drive Finn Harps’ survival bid.

The Donegal outfit were rocked this week when it was confirmed that captain Dave Webster would miss the rest of the season.

Defender Webster, 32, suffered serious knee ligament damage in the April 15 draw away to Bohemians at Dalymount Park.

He was forced off before half-time and scans this week revealed the devastating full extent of the injury.

But as Harps chase a second win of the season over Shelbourne tonight, Horgan (above) wants other players to step up and fill the leadership void.

“There’s no pretending it’s run of the mill, he’s a massive loss to us and we’ll just need other people to step up to fill that gap,” he told the Donegal Daily.

“We were already going to have an uphill battle, now it’s more of an uphill battle. The fact he went down with no one around him raised alarm bells.

“We were hopeful it wasn’t a cruciate ligament but unfortunately it was and it’s a serious blow for him and for us.”

Shels boss Damien Duff needs no reminding of that haunting defeat, but will watch tonight’s clash from the stands after his dismissal in last week’s defeat at Dundalk.

Third from bottom Shels hold a five point advantage over Harps in what is already a key clash in the relegation playoff battle.

Duff, who like Horgan is hoping to avoid a third straight defeat, said: “It’s one of the toughest places to go in the league. The likes of Shamrock Rovers and Derry often struggle there so we know what we’re facing tonight.

“It’s a massive game but at the end of the day it’s the same amount of points on offer as any other game.

Duff added: “It’s probably one of the better times of year to go there with the weather but it’s a game where the players are going to have to show their personality.

“For 89 minutes last week we showed great concentration abut we switched off for 60 seconds and you can see what happens.”