Dave Rogers confirms Barry McNamee departure from Finn Harps

Barry McNamee declined a new contract at Finn Harps, manager Dave Rogers has confirmed.

While Harps fans might have harboured hopes of seeing McNamee back in the blue and white, the Ramelton man has parted ways.

McNamee played 89 times across the previous three seasons, scoring eight times.

The former Derry City and Cork City player was lured to Harps by then manager Ollie Horgan in 2020 and he captained Harps in 2022 following an injury to Dave Webster.

McNamee works as a porter in Letterkenny University Hospital and the 30-year-old, like defender Conor Tourish, has decided against a return.

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“Barry and Conor are two fantastic lads and they have made decisions that they feel they needed to make,” Rogers told Donegal Live.

“Some players had family decisions to make and others had work commitments. I'm a family man and I'm not going to encourage the boys to do anything different.

“Before people start jumping to conclusions, the boys were offered the chance to stay, but they chose not to for family reasons and I respect them for that.

“I have had multiple conversations with every player who was at Finn Harps last season. Some players wanted more money after being relegated – not for me.”

Only Ryan Rainey of the 2022 regulars is back although Rogers has brought Keith Cowan back to the club. Cowan has been installed as captain of a new-look and, so far, youthful, squad.

Academy players Sean O'Donnell, Kevin Jordan, Brendan McLaughlin and Shaunie Bradley all featured on Sunday wile Damien Duffy, who was on the club's books last season, was among the trialists to feature in Sunday's 6-0 defeat by Derry City at the Brandywell.

Rogers said: “We finished the game with three 16-year-olds, two 17-year-olds and some trialists. We will keep moving forward and keep doing things the right way."