Finn Harps narrowly beaten as Galway United hit three second-half goals

Finn Harps were defeated in their second pre-season friendly by Galway United in Finn Park on Sunday.

A goal just before the half an hour mark from Max Johnston gave Kevin McHugh’s side the lead, and they held that lead at half-time, but Cillian Tollett responded swiftly after the restart.

A Galway trialist and Tollett hit the net in a three minute spell on the hour mark, but Gavin McAteer’s great curling strike made the final ten minutes interesting, although Galway held on.

A minutes applause was held before kick-off to remember former Finn Harps manager Ollie Horgan, who was most recently assistant manager at Galway United before his sad passing in August of 2025, with this match being the first meeting between the two sides since.

And it was the Premier Division outfit who started the better, Axel Piesold crossing to the back post for Stephen Walsh, who headed across to Francely Lomboto from a few yards out, but he somehow headed wide.

Jimmy Keohane had a dangerous free drop in the box, but Max Hutchison cleared, while Keohane then headed wide from a cross.

A long ball towards Francely Lomboto saw him touch past Corey Sheridan, but Hutchison cleared before the Harps took the lead.

It was a first clear cut chance as Josh Cullen had possession near the corner flag on the right, looping a cross to the back post where Max Johnston was there to beat the defender and head in.

Galway had the ball in the net when Keohane rounded Sheridan, but he was offside when Walsh made the pass.

And the Harps almost went two up when Trialist D played in Idir Zerrouk, and his effort came off the inside of the post and was cleared.

Galway went close twice as Walsh’s header was saved, and Sheridan made a great save to deny Lomboto as he poked towards goal from a ball over the top.

Axel Piesold had an inswinging corner come off the bar, but the score remained 1-0 at the break.

Galway didn’t take long to get the equaliser however, the Harps were unable to clear the danger as the ball bobbled around, and half-time sub Cillian Tollett found the net from inside the box within three minutes of being introduced.

Galway made six changes at the break, with the Harps making three, and Trialist E, Tuesday night’s goalscorer, almost did the same again as he cut in from the left and curled an effort just wide.

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But the visitors added to the scoreline as a through ball found Trialist 2, who chipped the ball over Lorenzo Piaia and into the net.

They added a third minutes later, just on the hour mark, David Hurley curling a cross in for Tollett who headed in from close range.

Galway threatened further with their two outfield trialists going close, while Gavin McAteer and Odhran McHugh had shots blocked at the other end.

But McAteer got on the scoresheet, playing a short corner to Adam McDaid and getting the ball back, he made his way into the box and curled a shot into the top corner.

McAteer nearly levelled in the 90th minute, cutting onto his right foot inside the box, but the Galway ‘keeper put it out for a corner.

The ball came in, and Shaunie Bradley went down in the box, but the referee played on as Joel Bradley Walsh had a shot from range saved, as it ended 3-2.

Finn Harps: Corey Sheridan (Lorenzo Piaia ht); Josh Cullen (Conor McGranaghan 86), Max Hutchison (Joel Bradley Walsh 75), Trialist A, Darragh Coyle (Troy Peston Holder 86); Idir Zerrouk (Gavin McAteer ht) Trialist B (Adam McDaid 75), Tony McNamee (Oran Brogan 56); Max Johnston (Trialist E ht), Trialist C (Odhran McHugh 75), Trialist D (Shaunie Bradley ht).

Galway United: Trialist 1; Ed McCarthy (Conor McCormack ht), Killian Brouder, Gianfranco Facchineri (Billy Regan 63), Al-Amin Kazeem (Jacob Carroll 63); Axel Piesold (Trialist 3 73), Matty Wolfe (David Hurley ht), Junior Thiam (Charlie Campbell 63), Jimmy Keohane (Trialist 2 ht), Stephen Walsh (Kris Twardek ht), Francely Lomboto (Cillian Tollett ht).

Referee: Paul McLaughlin.