Goalkeeper Gavin Mulreany on board with Finn Harps

Goalkeeper Gavin Mulreany has signed for Finn Harps ahead of the Airtricity League Premier Division season kicking off.

The Inver native had been on trial with the Ballybofey club in the close season and saved a penalty in the 1-0 loss against Galway United, denying Mikie Rowe in the first of the pre-season outings and has shared the goalkeeping shirt with Milford native Shea McBride in recent weeks.

Mulreany, who signed from Donegal Town FC, also kept goals for St Naul’s GAA club and played for Declan Bonner’s Donegal minor side in 2016 when they won the Ulster MFC title and reached the All-Ireland semi-final. He is a soldier with the Irish Defence Forces based in Athlone.

“Best of luck to Gavin Mulreany who has signed with Finn Harps for the forthcoming season from everyone at DTFC,” read a post from Donegal Town FC.

Mark Anthony McGinley played the bulk of last season for manager Ollie Horgan, although missed the last match of the season - a 5-0 win over Longford Town that ensured Harps’ survival - having picked up a dead leg in the 2-2 draw at St Patrick’s Athletic the week before.

Gerard Doherty featured throughout the campaign, which the Ballybofey side finished in eighth place in the table. Patrick McGarvey last month joined Dergview on loan.

Goalkeeper McGarvey, who is under contract at Harps for 2022, moved to the Irish League Championship side  and will be aiming to get some valuable game time under his belt.

With Mulreany in goal, Harps continued their pre-season with a 1-1 friendly draw against fellow Premier Division outfit Sligo Rovers at the Showgrounds on Tuesday night.

Letterkenny native Conor Tourish equalised for Ollie Horgan's side 11 minutes into the second half after the hosts had gone in front through a goal from Niall Morahan with a left-footed strike, following a Seamus Keogh lay-off on 15 minutes.

Rob Slevin, Ryan Connolly, Yoyo Mahdy, Barry McNamee, Bastien Hery, Ethan Boyle and Mark Timlin all featured.
Another Letterkenny man, Shane Blaney, started for Liam Buckey's Sligo. Tourish was on the mark on Saturday in Harps' 1-1 draw with Cork City in Abbotstown. Beforehand, in their pre-season outings, Harps lost 1-0 to Galway United and beat Treaty United by two goals to nil.

Harps open their Premier Division campaign with a home fixture against Drogheda United on Friday, February 18.