Finn Harps run rule over trialists in Cliftonville draw

Sean Patton scored again for Finn Harps as they drew with Irish Cup holders Clifonville in a friendly at Finn Park on Sunday.

Patton's opener was cancelled out by Luke Conlan's goal in the 63^rd minute on an afternoon when Harps manager Darren Murphy ran the rule over two trialists.

Cassius Joseph, most recently of Northern United All Stars in his native St Lucia, played the first half while Gavin Gilmore, a graduate of Galway United's academy who was on the books of Athlone Town in 2023, played almost an hour.

The Finn Park coffers were boosted by a healthy attendance – the biggest away support at the venue this season - from Belfast who came to support a Cliftonville outfit gearing up for an excursion in the second qualifying round of the Eurpoa Conference League.

A trip to Latvia or the Faroe Islands awaiting at the end of the month with Jim Magilton's side to face the winners of the first round clash of FK Auda and B36 Tórshavn.

Patton, whose debut goal secured a 1-0 win over Kerry on Thursday, opened the scoring in the 24^th minute, a lovely finish beating Declan Breen after getting onto the end of a Jamie Watson flick.

Earlier in the afternoon, Noe Baba riffled over from distance while Cliftonville defender Jonny Addis prodded wide at the other end.

Breen denied one of the Harps trialists in the 35^th minute with a smart save before thwarting the other five minutes later.

The Reds fielded just three players - Jonny Addis, Shea Kearney and Carndonagh native Ronan Doherty – from the side that came from behind to defeat Linfield 3-1 in the Irish Cup final at Windsor Park in May.

Ronan Doherty fires in a shot for Cliftonville

That victory marked a first Irish Cup success for Cliftonville in 45 years with Jim Magilton's men finishing third in the League, behind Larne and Linfield.

Just before half-time, Matthew Makinson got in the way of a goal-bound shot from former Cockhill Celtic midfielder Doherty while Shea Gordon fired into the arms of Harps 'keeper Oisin Cooney.

Cliftonville drew level just after the hour mark when Conlan finished from close range after getting onto the end of a Doherty corner.

Murphy ran the bench in the second half, with Max Johnston, Adam McDaid, Dylan McAteer and James McAteer all coming in having played for the U20s in a 2-1 win over Waterford in the Enda McGuill Cup on Saturday. Oisin Cooney and Darragh Coyle started the game having also played for the U20s the previous afternoon.

Finn Harps: Oisin Cooney; Darragh Coyle, Matthew Makinson (Adam McDaid 58), Conor Tourish (Dylan McAteer 58), Jamie Watson (Max Johnston h-t); Noe Baba, Max Hutchison (Patrick Ferry 58); Aaron McLaughlin (James McAteer 58), Gavin Gilmore (Nathan McDaid 58), Cassius Joseph (Tony McNamee h-t); Sean Patton (Gavin McAteer h-t).

Cliftonville: Declan Breen, Jonny Addis, Michael Newberry (Oli McCart 58), Shea Kearney, Reece Jordan (Conor Pepper 58), Shea Gordon, Ronan Doherty, Stephen McGuinness (Luke Conlan 58), Jack Berry (Oisin Gamble 66), Ben Wylie (Joe Sheridan 47), Keevan Hawthorne (Ryan Curran 66).

Referee: Marc Lynch.