Finn Harps fall to defeat in pre-season friendly away to Sligo Rovers

A Callum Lynch goal was all that separated the sides as Finn Harps were defeated by Sligo Rovers in Ray MacSharry Park on Saturday.

There were few chances in the first half, although Lorenzo Piaia made a couple of good saves to deny Ryan O’Kane and Jad Hakiki, while Joel Bradley Walsh’s effort across goal was as good as it got for Kevin McHugh’s men.

And Lynch hit the net on 50 minutes, with Cian Kavanagh also going close for the hosts, while the Harps failed to threaten Richard Brush in the Sligo net often enough.

The Harps had one trialist on at right wing, while Sligo’s side had Donegal interest in Gareth McElroy, along with Shane Blaney and Carl McHugh coming on as subs.

Ryan O’Kane had the first chance on seven minutes with a swerving effort from outside the box, but Lorenzo Piaia made a good diving save.

Will Fitzgerald then played a ball over the top to Jad Hakiki, with Daniel Lacerda making a good block, before Hakiki had another shot saved minutes later. 

A dangerous cross from Ciaron Harkin to the back post found Fitzgerald, but he somehow headed wide.

Lacerda made a great block to deny Hakiki once again, while Piaia made another smart save to deny Alex Nolan as he cut in past Lacerda and shot.

But the Harps had the final chance of the half, a Bernardo Monteiro free towards the back post was fired back across by Joel Bradley Walsh, but there was nobody there to tap in. 

The second half was similar, with few chances, but Temiloluwa Ajibola heading wide from a Tony McNamee cross for the first effort.

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Sligo made seven changes at the break, most in midfield and attack and it paid off five minutes after the restart as they won possession high up and from the left, Guilherme Rego Priosti crossed low for Callum Lynch, who fired past Corey Sheridan at the back post. 

Cian Kavanagh should have made it 2-0 as Archie Meekison crossed to him at the back post, but he somehow headed wide.

Kevin McHugh injected fresh legs into his side then, and a McAteer corner was headed back across by Shaunie Bradley, causing a defensive mix-up, but the hosts cleared the danger.

Priosti’s corner was headed wide by the recently introduced Shane Blaney, the Letterkenny man making his first appearance back at Sligo, coming on for fellow Donegal native Gareth McElroy. 

But the Harps had a good final 15 minutes, a Tony McNamee free going over the bar, while Idir Zerrouk probably should have passed when four on three, but his shot was tame and went wide.

They almost got in from a route one effort, Sheridan kicking long and Bradley just got to the ball before Richard Brush, but he couldn’t get on to the second effort as Sligo cleared. 

And a chance for a Harps equaliser came very late on as Josh Cullen crossed towards Zerrouk at the back post, but his shot looked to be going wide as it hit off Max Johnston and went over the bar as Sligo took the win. 

Sligo Rovers: Richard Brush; Conor Reynolds, Oliver Denham (Conor Cannon 62), Gareth McElroy (Shane Blaney 62), Will Fitzgerald (Sean Stewart ht); Ciaron Harkin (Carl McHugh ht), Sebastian Quirk (Callum Lynch ht), Jad Hakiki (Daire Patton ht), Alex Nolan (Archie Meekison ht), Ryan O’Toole (Guilherme Rego Priostri ht), Maï Traore (Cian Kavanagh ht)

Finn Harps: Lorenzo Piaia (Corey Sheridan ht); Oran Brogan (Josh Cullen 62), Daniel Lacerda, Joel Bradley Walsh, Idir Zerrouk; Max Hutchison (Adam McDaid 62), Tony McNamee; (Conor McGranaghan 82) Trialist 1 (Max Johnston 70), Bernardo Monteiro (Adam McHugh 70), Nathan Lumingo (Gavin McAteer 56); Temiloluwa Ajibola (Shaunie Bradley 62).