Finn Harps off the mark thanks to home draw with Bray

Finn Harps got their first point of 2023 on the board after a stalemate with Bray Wanderers on Friday night.

Finn Harps 1 Bray Wanderers 1

As the temperature dropped, the mercury stayed pretty high at Finn Park throughout.

Arizona native Ryan Flood, one of the plethora of newcomers in Dave Rogers' squad, put Harps in front with a cracking free-kick on 17 minutes, but Harry Groome struck the equaliser for Bray soon after.

A crowd of around 2,000 watched on as the teams remained deadlocked. Rogers' personality is evident in his team which might lack in experience but certainly not in endeavour. The rebuild might take time, but there are shoots of encouragement that should keep the majority of healthy early season attendances on side.

Harps hit the front after Ryan Rainey was taken down in the 'D' and referee Paul Norton awarded the free. In front of the Town End, Flood worked a set-piece one-two with Séamas Keogh before firing home, via the inside of Alex Moody's right-hand post.

Bray drew level on the half-hour. After Gerard Shortt made the incision down the left-hand side, Chris Lyons – who had fired wide a little earlier – chested back and Groome's effort from 20 yards beat Tim Hiemer.

Flood tried his luck with an ambitious attempt a minute later but, with Moody off his line, the American's effort floated wide.

The game was preceded by a moment's silence in memory of Kieran McGrath from Letterkenny Rovers and Bonagee United clubman Liam Haughey, who died in tragic circumstances earlier in the week.

Bray had an early sniff, but Shortt was unable to steer his header on target while Guillermo Almirall fired a stinging volley at Harps 'keeper Hiemer.

Late in the half, Dane Massey had two bites at the cherry when Harps didn't clear a corner, but his second effort had too much elevation to trouble Hiemer.

The Seagulls arrived in Ballybofey in buoyant mood, wins over Treaty and Kerry earning maximum dividends from their opening two outings.

Former Harps captain Dave Webster, now with Bray, was out injured, with Ian Ryan promoting Eoin Farrell for his full debut at the expense of Len O'Sullivan.

New signing Noe Baba was included from the start having been signed during the week. Baba, once a much-sought after prospect as a Republic of Ireland underage international, moved to Harps having spent the last four seasons in Germany, most recently with KFC Uerdingen.

Baba's inclusion meant Katlego Mashingo dropped to the bench.

When Okwuy Okwute surged into the Bray half on a breakaway, the home fans sensed something, but a foul on the back-tracking Massey saw a free awarded against the Harps attacker,.

Rainey, who netted from the penalty spot in each of Harps' opening two games, tried his hand at restoring the lead in the 60th minute. After sliding in to win possession back on the edge of the area, Rainey riffled over the crossbar.

Hiemer was called into action to superbly turn over a thumping drive by Max Murphy 14 minutes from the end.

There were chances of a winner at either end, Ellis Farrar's glancing header going wide for the hosts with Hiemer saving from Conor Crowley's daisy-cutter.

Finn Harps: Tim Hiemer; Caoimhin Porter, Keith Cowan, Daithi McCallion, Ellis Farrar; Noe Baba, Ryan Flood, Ryan Rainey (Sean O'Donnell 83); Michael Harris, Okwuy Okwute (Cian Lynch 58), Séamas Keogh (Katlego Mashingo 64).

Bray Wanderers: Alex Moody; Eoin Farrell, Cole Omorehiomwan, Dane Massey, Max Murphy; Conor Crowley, Guillermo Almirall (Luka Lovic56), Harry Groome (Conor Davis 76); Gerard Shortt (Joseph Power 76), Jake Walker, Chris Lyons (Callum Thompson 65).

Referee: Paul Norton.