Bray Wanderers 1 Finn Harps 2 (agg 1-3): Finn Harps are expecting a record crowd in excess of 7,000 when they host Derry City in the first leg of the Eircom League promotion/relegation final at Finn Park on Wednesday night (kick-off 8.0 p.m.).
The game will be all-ticket, with 2,500 going to Derry fans and the rest on sale throughout Donegal, such is the huge interest in this most important Northwest derby since Derry entered the League of Ireland in 1985.
Harps booked their place in the two-leg final - the return game is at the Brandywell on Saturday at 7.30 p.m. - with a polished 2-1 victory at the Carlisle Grounds on Saturday night, which meant a 3-1 aggregate over two legs. Goals in each half by Kevin McHugh and Damien Whitehead had Harps in control, though Kieran "Tarzan" O'Brien grabbed a last-minute consolation for the Seagulls.
It will be a nostalgic return for Derry boss Gavin Dykes to Harps, the club he managed towards the end of his playing career. By a twist of fate, new Harps supremo Noel King had one of his first spells in club management at Derry in 1986.
"These two games are going to be massive occasions for both clubs. It is just a shame that only one of us will be playing in the Premier Division next season," said King. "I am very proud of the fact that after I took over from Jimbo Crossan, I was the first manager to lead Derry to promotion, in the 1986-1987 season.
"Even though I still have many friends in Derry, it's Finn Harps who now pay my wages and want me to help win them promotion. I certainly won't gloat if Derry are relegated at the end of these two games.
"We want the first game in Ballybofey on Wednesday to be a real family occasion with huge number of schoolkids in the ground. Santa Claus will be there, although I imagine he'll be the only one in red and white colours who'll receive a welcome from the Harps supporters."
BRAY WANDERERS: Walsh; O'Hanlon, Lynch, Charles, Tresson; McGuinness, Fox, Gormley, Forsyth; O'Brien, Flood. Subs: James for Flood (57), Lawless for Forsyth (63), Ryan for Gormley (72).
FINN HARPS: Ramsey; Asokuh, Boyle, Bradley, Minnock; McGrenaghan, Mohan, O'Brien, Bonner; Whitehead, McHugh.
Referee: John McDermott (Dublin).
