Gavin McAteer scores, Oisin Cooney also plays for Nottingham Forest in friendly

Finn Harps teenagers Gavin McAteer and Oisin Cooney played for Nottingham Forest in a trial game on Tuesday night.

McAteer scored one of the goals and Cooney played in goal in a 5-1 win over Hull City at The Nigel Doughty Academy.

The game completed a 10-day trial for the Donegal youngsters on Trentside.

Dan Kelly, the head of emerging talent and recruitment at Forest and Jimmy Calvin, who spearheads the club’s scouting in Ireland, have been in close contact with Harps in recent weeks to arrange the trial.

Harps manager Darren Murphy attended Tuesday’s game.

“It’s been a fantastic 10 days for them,” Murphy told Donegal Live.

“Nottingham Forest have been brilliant, as have the host family. It seems very positive from the point of view that the boys enjoyed it and it has given them an insight into the levels they need to reach.”

The duo took in Forest's 1-0 win over Crystal Palace in the Premier League at the City Ground on Monday-week last while also attending an under-18 game against Manchester United.

Both players are under contract at Harps with Cooney having penned a two-year deal last November and McAteer signing on for three years in July.

Milford lad McAteer made 15 appearances in 2024 with Cooney, who hails from Clonmany, playing eight times.

Murphy said the players going on trial represented “real progression” for Finn Harps.

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He said: “I knew that there was a lot of talented young boys in Donegal, but sometimes that talent has been a wee bit harder to emerge.

“I am delighted for the two boys because they have worked extremely hard all year. They have kept level-headed and cool after coming into the senior set up so young. Both sets of parents have been magnificent too and they understand the process.”