Ollie Horgan runs rule over triallists as Finn Harps lose pre-season opener

THERE WAS A mix of the old, the new and the maybe as Finn Harps lost their opening pre-season friendly of the year against the Inishowen League.

Inishowen League 2 Finn Harps 1

Michael Barr and Ryan Doherty netted the goals to give Diarmuid O’Brien’s team a useful win ahead of their Oscar Traynor Cup clash against Galway League in March.

For Ollie Horgan (pictured above), it was not a night from which he will have learned a great deal.

Harps start their Premier Division campaign on March 4 at home to Derry City and Horgan used tonight to run the rule over several triallists.

There was a first appearances in Harps colours for new signing Ryan McConnell while Ciaran Gallagher, Damien McNulty, Packie Mailey, Ciaran Coll, Raymond Foy and Tony McNamee from the 2015 promotion-winning squad all started.

Club captain and veteran striker Kevin McHugh was among the replacements at half-time and the Killea man fired Harps in front just two minutes into the second half.

After weaving his way beyond a number of challenges, McHugh coolly tucked a shot into the bottom corner of Paddy Harkin’s net.

On a night that wasn’t exactly conducive to an attractive game, Harps came closest in the first half when McNamee smashed against the crossbar on 14 minutes.

Among the Harps triallists were 22-year-old French striker Yoann Fellrath, while former Sligo Rovers goalkeeper Richard Brush played the second half. Brush has been training with Harps in recent weeks and Horgan is keen to snap up the 31-year-old, who would bring experience and quality in equal measure, as well as bringing serious competition for the number 1 shirt.

Inishowen League equalised in the 70^th minute when Barr applied the finish after Brush had parried from Nigel McMonagle’s drive.

Inishowen secured the win two minutes into stoppage time when Doherty’s brilliant left-footed strike flew past Brush and into the bottom corner.

Earlier, Brush saved well from Brendan McLaughlin while Harps midfielder Raymond Foy was close with an enterprising shot from distance.

Inishowen League: Paddy Harkin; John G McLaughlin, William McLaughlin, Oisin McColgan, Matthew Byrne; Stephen McLaughlin, Paddy Doherty, Paddy McDermott, Jason Devlin; Anthony Doherty, Matthew Henry. Subs used: Darragh McLaughlin, Ryan Doherty, Gavin Doherty, Brendan McLaughlin, Michael Barr, Nigel McMonagle, Stephen McHugh, Michael Devlin.

Finn Harps: Ciaran Gallagher; Ryan McConnell, Damien McNulty, Packie Mailey, Ciaran Coll; Adam Hanlon, Ryan McManus, Raymond Foy, Liam Flatley; Tony McNamee; Yoann Fellrath. Subs used: Richard Brush, Ethan Boyle, Thomas McMonagle, Michael Funston, Kevin McHugh, BJ Banda, Gareth Doherty.

Referee: Michael Connolly.