LOI preview: Leaders Derry City face derby battle with Finn Harps

Derry City watched on as their lead was reduced to three points by Shamrock Rovers in the SSE Airtricity Premier Division on Friday night and they face a stern test in the first north-west derby fixture of the season with Finn Harps this evening.

The Candystripes have enjoyed a dream start to 2022 as they sit top of the table, aiming to complete a full series of matches unbeaten with this game with the local rivals.

Ruaidhri Higgins' side have dropped points on just two occasions, early in the year, at home to Sligo Rovers and away to Dundalk.

Since that it was been all victories for City, albeit tainted by injuries to Ciaron Harkin and Michael Duffy.

In making such an impressive start, it’s undoubtedly the top prize in the country in their sights now.

They’ll be backed by a sold out away allocation in Finn Harps with thousands of fans set to be present in Ballybofey.

Finn Harps have warmed to the task in the league after making a much slower start.

They were closing on a second win of the campaign last Monday until a late Drogheda United goal in what was an end-to-end game in Finn Park.

It will be another season of trying to avoid the drop and given Ollie Horgan has had to bed in a host of new players from abroad, he’ll know their points total is sufficient for staying in touch with their rivals.

Harps’ best performances are yet to come but the signs are good, particularly with the likes of Barry McNamee putting in such eye-catching displays last Monday.

The derby spoils were shared last season - a win apiece and two draws - but Ruaidhri Higgins has dismissed suggestions from his opposite number Ollie Horgan that the visitors are clear favourites now.

"Ollie's a brilliant manager who works extremely hard and he will have his team