Letterkenny Rovers 2 - 2 Finn Harps
Credit:
Letterkenny Rovers and Finn Harps drew two apiece in their pre-season friendly at a rainswept Aura Centre in Letterkenny on Friday night.
Both managers - Eamon McConigley of Letterkenny Rovers and Harps’ James Gallagher - will be reasonably content with their outings. The Harps boss played a 4-3-3 formation for the most part and were due to switch almost his entire team ahead of the visit of Swinford FC to Finn Valley on Saturday. Having already played against Sligo Rovers and Derry City in pre-season, drawing 1-1 and 0-0 respectively, although winning the latter game on penalties, Harps open Division One against Cork City on Friday week.
For Rovers, it was their first game in preparation for the new Ulster Senior League season. And although they trailed with 20 minutes to go by two goals to one, McConigley will be happy with the way his side finished the game having introduced a number of youngsters.
Letterkenny went ahead on 16 minutes following a trademark free-kick from Marty McAteer. The former Fanad United playmaker curled a delightful effort into Lee McFadden’s top corner after Darren McElwaine was fouled by Keith Cowan.
Rovers had enjoyed their best of the early chances with John Doherty and Ciaran Greene also going close but Harps grew into the game thanks in no small part to Conor O’Grady pulling the strings in midfield.
The former Sligo Rovers skipper played in Oisin McMenamin with a delightful throughball on 29 minutes and the Newtowncunningham native placed the ball past Marty McGinty in the Letterkenny goal for an equaliser.
Harps went in front just before half-time with an excellent goal from Marc Brolly. From James Doherty’s corner, which John Doherty cleared, the Harps winger caught the ball on the volley for an excellent goal, something of a reward for the supporters who were cramped underneath battered umbrellas.
It was expected that Harps’ fitness would tell in the second half but McConigley used his bench well and on 71 minutes, got his rewards for doing so. Moments after Terence Shiels went close with a left-footed half-volley, Conal McGonigle played in a dangerous free-kick and although there were a number of players in white reaching for the ball, it was Darren McElwaine who got the vital touch and the ball went in off the base of the post.
Letterkenny Rovers: Marty McGinty; Conal McGonigle, Marty McAteer, Glen Hamilton, Jonathan Minnock; Terence Shiels, John Doherty, Keith Hegarty, Ciaran Greene, Darren McElwaine, Paddy McNulty.
Subs: Paddy McDaid, Jamie Doherty, John Keeney, Conor Tourish, Oisin Grant.
Finn Harps: Lee McFadden; Kieran Gorman, Keith Cowan, Aaron O’Hagan, Darren McGeever; James Doherty, Conor O’Grady, Gareth Harkin; Marc Brolly, Garbhan Friel, Oisin McMenamin.
Subs: Tommy Bonner, Mark Forker
Both managers - Eamon McConigley of Letterkenny Rovers and Harps’ James Gallagher - will be reasonably content with their outings. The Harps boss played a 4-3-3 formation for the most part and were due to switch almost his entire team ahead of the visit of Swinford FC to Finn Valley on Saturday. Having already played against Sligo Rovers and Derry City in pre-season, drawing 1-1 and 0-0 respectively, although winning the latter game on penalties, Harps open Division One against Cork City on Friday week.
For Rovers, it was their first game in preparation for the new Ulster Senior League season. And although they trailed with 20 minutes to go by two goals to one, McConigley will be happy with the way his side finished the game having introduced a number of youngsters.
Letterkenny went ahead on 16 minutes following a trademark free-kick from Marty McAteer. The former Fanad United playmaker curled a delightful effort into Lee McFadden’s top corner after Darren McElwaine was fouled by Keith Cowan.
Rovers had enjoyed their best of the early chances with John Doherty and Ciaran Greene also going close but Harps grew into the game thanks in no small part to Conor O’Grady pulling the strings in midfield.
The former Sligo Rovers skipper played in Oisin McMenamin with a delightful throughball on 29 minutes and the Newtowncunningham native placed the ball past Marty McGinty in the Letterkenny goal for an equaliser.
Harps went in front just before half-time with an excellent goal from Marc Brolly. From James Doherty’s corner, which John Doherty cleared, the Harps winger caught the ball on the volley for an excellent goal, something of a reward for the supporters who were cramped underneath battered umbrellas.
It was expected that Harps’ fitness would tell in the second half but McConigley used his bench well and on 71 minutes, got his rewards for doing so. Moments after Terence Shiels went close with a left-footed half-volley, Conal McGonigle played in a dangerous free-kick and although there were a number of players in white reaching for the ball, it was Darren McElwaine who got the vital touch and the ball went in off the base of the post.
Letterkenny Rovers: Marty McGinty; Conal McGonigle, Marty McAteer, Glen Hamilton, Jonathan Minnock; Terence Shiels, John Doherty, Keith Hegarty, Ciaran Greene, Darren McElwaine, Paddy McNulty.
Subs: Paddy McDaid, Jamie Doherty, John Keeney, Conor Tourish, Oisin Grant.
Finn Harps: Lee McFadden; Kieran Gorman, Keith Cowan, Aaron O’Hagan, Darren McGeever; James Doherty, Conor O’Grady, Gareth Harkin; Marc Brolly, Garbhan Friel, Oisin McMenamin.
Subs: Tommy Bonner, Mark Forker
