Dundalk held to pre-season draw against Finn Harps

Dundalk FC 0-0 Finn Harps

Dundalk FC and Finn Harps played out a dour scoreless draw in a pre-season friendly.

A decent crowd was in attendance to catch a first glimpse of all four of the club’s new arrivals on Friday night, but the game as a contest was typical of a pre-season encounter.

Harps started brightly, and had two efforts inside the first ten minutes – first through Ryan Rainey, who fired over, before a Michael Harris cross was headed over by Trialist 3.

Dundalk dominated the remainder of the first half, however, with Alfie Lewis having a shot blocked, before Keith Ward’s right-field cross was headed over by Patrick Hoban.

17-year-old Senan Mullen was handed a starting berth by head coach Stephen O’Donnell, and the Republic of Ireland U18 international had a shot saved by Tim-Oliver Hiemer.

Seconds later, a Hoban header veered inches wide of the mark, while the lively Ryan O’Kane’s shot from distance was pushed away for a corner by Harps goalkeeper Hiemer.

That resulting corner led to skipper Hoban diverting an attempt wide from close range.

O’Kane had another effort five minutes before the half-time break, this time sailing off target, while Hoban – from a delicious Ward pass – dragged a shot just wide after that.

In the second half, a Ward corner from the left was met by new signing Hayden Muller, whose header crashed off the post, while at the other end, another new addition, Scottish forward Cameron Elliott, cleared a Harps attempt off the line at the very last moment.

Connor Malley had what looked a goal-bound shot deflected off target by Daithi McCallion, while Louie Annesley had a goal ruled out for offside in the dying embers.

Dundalk FC: Nathan Shepperd (Mark Byrne, HT); Sam Caiger, Hayden Muller, Andy Boyle (Callum Bonner, 67), Senan Mullen (Anthony Mayo, HT); Paul Doyle (Louie Annesley, HT), Alfie Lewis (Eoin Kenny, 67); Ryan O’Kane (Jake Hough, 67), Connor Malley (Oisin Coleman, 76), Keith Ward; Patrick Hoban (Cameron Elliott, HT)

Subs not used: Luke Mulligan

Finn Harps: Tim-Oliver Hiemer; Caoimhin Porter, Daithi McCallion (Trialist 5, 75), Keith Cowan (Trialist 7, 58), Trialist 1 (Kevin Jordan, 75); Trialist 2 (Trialist 9, 75), Ryan Rainey (Trialist 8, 58); Sean O’Donnell (Trialist 4, 75), Seamas Keogh (Trialist 6, 51), Michael Harris (Brendan McLaughlin, 75); Trialist 3 (Shaunie Bradley, 75)

Subs not used: Trialist 10 (gk)

Referee: Robert Harvey (Dublin)