, Karl O’Sullivan netted a debut goal to hand his new side a narrow win over North-West Rivals Sligo Rovers at Finn Park. Neither keeper was made to work for their money in the first half and ten minutes into the second half
Karl O’Sullivan netted a debut goal to hand his new side a narrow win over North-West Rivals Sligo Rovers at Finn Park.
Neither keeper was made to work for their money in the first half and ten minutes into the second half, O’Sullivan popped up to bag the winner after a set-piece.
Ronan Murray had a very late effort blocked at close range as the hosts bagged the three points on the opening day.
There were debuts aplenty at Finn Park for the opening day of the season, 15 in total while nine found themselves in the starting line-ups.
The hosts welcomed Kosovar Sadiki, David Webster, Karl O’Sullivan, Shane McEleney and Ryan Connolly to Donegal while Darragh Noone, Will Seymore, Garry Buckley and Temmu Penninkangas made their bow for the Bit O’ Red.
Finn Harps had another five new faces on the bench while Sligo Rovers had former Harps man Jesse Devers in their dugout.
It was the hosts who had the better of the early openings from albeit a slow start with Karl O’Sullivan firing an early effort just wide. Fellow debutant Kosovar Sadiki had a chance shortly after but he couldn’t get the required connection on a Raff Cretaro set-piece.
As the opening day of the season is expected to be sluggish, wayward passes were a familiar theme early on but the match kicked into life in spells.
Teemu Penninkangas was the recipient for the visitors first chance and it was a big one, with the low cross from Ronan Murray, the Finnish number 17 was unmarked in the area but panicked and cushioned his header wide.
Garry Buckley was next up to test Mark McGinley in nets, latching onto a quickly taken free kick from Ronan Coughlan but his delicate lob didn’t outsmart the goalkeeper.
The remainder of the half kept in tune as the chances were quite rare, with Harps blazing over a couple of volleys.
The hosts did have a brief scare approaching the interval as an attempted clearance by Ryan Connolly was fortunately sliced into McGinley’s grateful grasp.
Harps started the second half in a similar style to the first and drew first blood ten minutes after the restart. Connolly’s initial corner was blocked but then put back across by David Webster and O’Sullivan was alert at the back post to force it over the line.
The goal was a clear confidence booster for the former Limerick player and moments after his opener he went on a 40-50 yard dash, beating several players before keeping Ed McGinty on his toes with an effort aimed at his near post.
Finn Harps were strong in the second half and had an impressive bench to call upon with Barry McNamee making his debut with 20 minutes to go.
The hosts new defensive reinforcements stood firm throughout the encounter and were especially aware of the impressive Penninkangas.
Deep into stoppage time and Harps fans had their hearts racing as Ronan Murray was through on goal but Sadiki and McGinley thwarted what was the last chance of the afternoon.
Harps: McGinley; Sadiki, Webster, Todd, Russell; Harkin, Coyle, McEleney, Connolly, O’Sullivan; Cretaro
Subs: Barry McNamee for Cretaro(70), Ruairi Harkin for Coyle(84)
Sligo: McGinty; Kane, Callan-McFadden, Seymore, Penninkangas; Coughlan, Noone, Buckley, Cawley, Morahan; Murray
Subs: Jesse Devers for Buckley(76)
