Finn Harps are hosting Cork City tonight in their opening game of the new League of Ireland season – and we’ll have all the action as it happens.
FT Finn Harps 0 Cork City 1
73 – Conor McCormick is denied first by Gallagher and then by the bar. 0-1
70 Paddy McCourt is ON!
Plenty of endeavour here by Harps: Can they force an equaliser
58 – Caolan McAleer drives a powerful effort at goal, but Mark McNulty saves. 0-1
48 – Ryan Delaney’s shot from close range in a crowded goalmouth comes off the post and Barry Molloy clears. 0-1
45 – Sean Maguire fires Cork ahead. Right on the whistle. Flick on by Jimmy Keohane and he slots home. 0-1
Not much action since…Harps are back to a four-man rearguard. 0-0
28 – Kevin O’Connor drills at the Harps goal and it’s a potentially-dangerous one, but Gallagher makes the save. FH 0 CC 0
Harps well set up, as you’d expect, and will be happy with how they’ve started this one. FH 0 CC 0
Conditions are really tricky for players – and for media as the windows here are next-to-impossible to see out of!!
15 – A dangerous long ball gets over the top, but Ciaran Gallagher is out to block with Sean Maguire on the end of it. FH 0 CC 0
12 – Damien McNulty has been yellow carded having been adjudged to have fouled for a third time in the game.
11 – Garry Buckley steps aside Damien McNulty, but Ciaran Coll’s tackle thwarts his advances into dangerous territory. FH 0 CC 0
7 – Steven Dooley has Cork’s first attempt on goal, but it’s well over after a free by Greg Bolger is only partially cleared. FH 0 CC 0
…but Jonny Bonner curls a left-footed effort over the crossbar
O’Connor wins a free for Harps in what seems a dangerous position…
Harps with three at the back: Boyle, McNulty and Cantwell. McAleer and Coll as the wing-backs
And we’re off…
Harps will attack the Town End in the first half.
Rain is drizzling down at Finn Park, which will make the conditions pretty tricky. Pitch here was only give the go-ahead at 4.45 this evening by Rob Rogers, the match referee.
Since the departure of Kevin McHugh, only two players in the current Harps squad have hit double figures of goals: Michael Funston on 31 and Sean Houston with 11.
Good spot this by Darren Browne on Twitter:
@chrismcnulty86 the 2 captains would of had many battles in the lifford and district league
— Darren Browne (@darrenwbrowne) February 24, 2017
No place in the starting XI for Paddy McCourt tonight, but he is on the bench, while there are debuts for Killian Cantwell, Danny Morrissey, Ciaran O’Connor and Caolan McAleer.
Cork City are captained by Ballybofey boy Johnny Dunleavy, who plays at Finn Park for the first time.
New signing Eddie Dsane, formerly of Longford Town, is on the bench for Harps tonight. His captured hadn’t been announced by Harps, but he’s listed on the match night squad
Teams from @FinnHarpsFC v @CorkCityFC Updates on @BBCRadioFoyle from 7.30 pic.twitter.com/lZZWFQsr5f
— Chris McNulty (@chrismcnulty86) February 24, 2017
