Finn Harps 0 - 0 Derry City

Finn Harps and Derry City played out a scoreless draw in a tame pre-season encounter at Finn Park tonight.

With the Champions League taking prime billing with the North West’s soccer fans, only 150 or so fans converged on Finn Park, though home fans will have taken a fair amount of heart with their youngsters managing to keep a close-to-full-strength Derry at bay over 90 minutes in a tame pre-season encounter between the two rivals.

Derry handed a start to Northern Ireland U21 international David Scullion, who only signed for the club within minutes of the close of the transfer window last evening, in a strong first eleven fielded by boss Stephen Kenny.

With the new season just around the corner, Harps boss Paul Hegarty also fielded something close to what will resemble his preferred team.

That his likely to be a largely inexperienced one, formed in large portions by local youngsters who have blossomed in the underage ranks of late.

Hegarty had St Johnstone teenager Ciaran Coll, Gartan’s Christy Connaghan and James Doherty from Kilmacrennan in his team, while the on-loan duo Ruairi Harkin and David McDaid got the chance to shine against their owners.

In an almost entirely uneventful first-half, the Harps youngsters showed well and could have been ahead at the interval, but for a fine save by Gerard Doherty to deny Conor Gethins on 26 minutes. The striker got on the end of a Connaghan cross and his goal-bound header forced Doherty into throwing himself down to his right to make the save.

Derry’s best chance of the half fell the way of Ciaran Martyn, whose ferocious 25-yard effort was well turned around the post by Gavin Cullen.

Inside the first five minutes, Cullen raced from his goal to thwart Mark Farren on the edge of the box, with a fiery challenge from the Cockhill man that resulted in a free being awarded setting the blood racing.

But, it didn’t set the tempo for what was to come, as it was the typical pre-season encounter that lacked any notable bite for the most part, though there was still plenty of effort on show. Just after the hour, Gethins could have given Harps the lead when his hooked half-volley beat Jennings, but the ball cannoned off Clive Delaney to safety. Ten minutes from time, Michael Funston’s arrowed delivery was just a little too high for Gary Whoriskey to trouble Jennings.

Finn Harps (4-4-2): Gavin Cullen; James Doherty (Gary Whoriskey 75), Marc Mukendi, Johnny Havlin, Ciaran Coll; Christy Connaghan, Ruairi Harkin (Vinny Sweeney 63), Shaun McGowan, Michael Funston; Conor Gethins, David McDaid.

Derry City (4-4-2): Gerard Doherty (Pat Jennings 46); Eddie McCallion, Peter Hutton (Steven Gray 57), Clive Delaney (Aaron Nash 80), Ger O’Brien; David Scullion (Gareth McGlynn 70), Ciaran Martyn, Barry Molloy, James McClean (Liam Kearney 70); Mark Farren, Thomas Stewart (Sammy Morrow 57).

Referee: Terence Moyne.

Attendance:150