Finn Harps begin pre-season with North West derby win over Sligo Rovers

Finn Harps began their pre-season campaign with a one goal win over Premier Division side Sligo Rovers in Finn Park on Tuesday night.

The Harps took the lead just before half-time, Trialist C firing in from outside the box.

And while Sligo got a penalty soon after the restart, Corey Sheridan made a great save to deny Cian Kavanagh from the spot.

Both sides had a couple of chances each to add to the scoreline, but the Harps held on in what was a good display from the hosts.

Four trialists started for Kevin McHugh’s side, and a further two came off the bench in impressive displays all round, while 15-year-old Odhran McHugh, son of the manager, also made a first appearance for the senior side in wet conditions that were tough to play in.

In what was a tame opening quarter to the game, it took 23 minutes before a first shot on target as Owen Elding took a strike from range, but Lorenzo Piaia saved easily.

Sligo began to take control for the next 15 minutes and good feet from Will Fitzgerald allowed him to chip the ball in for a cross, but again Piaia wasn’t threatened.

The Bit O’Red had the ball in the net when Oliver Denham’s through ball found Owen Elding, who rounded Piaia and tapped in, but the offside flag was raised.

And the Brazilian stopper made a first diving save soon after, Alex Nolan cutting in from the right and almost found the bottom corner, but again Piaia was equal to it.

The Harps did get a couple of chances before the break, first as Gavin McAteer’s free was headed goalwards by Shaunie Bradley, but his effort went wide.

But they took the lead five minutes before the break, a cross was headed out to Trialist C, who took a touch and fired a powerful shot low into the bottom left corner.

READ NEXT: Caolán McGonagle gets a special birthday present with the birth of baby Oisin

McAteer tried to make it 2-0 with a shot from range, but the Sligo Rovers ‘keeper held, while Piaia made the save of the half as Nolan found Archie Meekison from 12 yards, but Sligo were denied again.

There were wholesale changes at the break, seven for the hosts and ten for the visitors, and it almost paid off early for John Russell’s men, as Trialist 2 crossed low for Cian Kavanagh and he was taken down by Trialist B. 

Kavanagh stepped up and went to the bottom right, but Corey Sheridan dived the right way and saved, gathering the rebound.

The Ballyshannon 'keeper then made another good save from Daire Patton, who capitalised on a loose pass, while Trialist F had two good efforts for the Harps, but Sam Sargeant made two great diving saves to deny him.

Chances died down in the final 20 minutes, with Trialist E finding Trialist F with a through ball, but Conor Reynolds made a great tackle to deny him.

Finn Harps: Lorenzo Piaia (Corey Sheridan ht); Darragh Coyle (Josh Cullen 67), Trialist A (Max Hutchison ht), Conor Tourish (Joel Bradley Walsh 74), Trialist D; Idir Zerrouk (Aaron McLaughlin ht), Oran Brogan (Tony McNamee ht), Trialist B (Odhran McHugh 74), Trialist C (Max Johnston ht); Gavin McAteer (Trialist E ht), Shaunie Bradley (Trialist F ht).

Sligo Rovers: Trialist 5 (Sam Sargeant ht); Jeannot Esua (Conor Reynolds ht), Oliver Denham (Trialist 6 ht), Gareth McElroy, Sean Stewart (Kyle McDonagh ht); Carl McHugh (Ciaron Harkin ht), Sebastian Quirk (Daire Patton ht), Alex Nolan (Guilherme Rego Priostri ht), Archie Meekison (Callum Lynch ht), Will Fitzgerald (Trialist 2); Owen Elding (Cian Kavanagh ht).