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06 Sept 2025
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06 Sept 2025
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Max Johnston scored for Finn Harps. Photo: Sportsfile
Finn Harps 2 Ballinamallard 2
Finn Harps drew with NIFL Championship outfit Ballinamallard in a useful friendly workout at Finn Park on Tuesday evening.
Max Johnston and Aaron McLaughlin hit early goals for Harps, but second-half goals from Josh McIlwaine and James McGrath brought Ballinamallard level.
Harps took just 22 seconds to break the deadlock, as Johnston got in behind to finish to the far corner.
The lead was doubled in the 18th minute when McLaughlin profited from a slip by a Ballinamallard defender and applied the finish.
In between those goals, the game was halted for around five minutes after teenager Darragh Coyle picked up an injury. The 17-year-old was carried off on a stretcher and will need assessment in the coming days.
Harps started with six players – Jamie Watson, Conor Tourish, Patrick Ferry, David Cawley, Tony McNamee and Aaron McLaughlin - who began Friday night's 1-0 loss to Cork City at Turner's Cross.
Watson riffled wide in the 28th minute with Harps well on top of things while Ferry and Noe Baba had chances of a third.
Ballinamallard are now under the direction of Mark Stafford, the former Mallards and Linfield player taking over following the departure of Tommy Canning – who has since rejoined the Harps backroom staff - as manager from Ferney Park.
Harps boss Darren Murphy rang the changes for the second half with American trialist Kyle Galloway among those sent on at the interval.
Nine minutes into the second half, McIlwaine pulled a goal back for Ballinamallard with a tidy finish from the edge of the box.
Ballinamallard equalised in the 67th minute when McGrath rose to head home.
Finn Harps: Oisin Cooney; Darragh Coyle (Luke O'Brien 10), Noe Baba, Conor Tourish (Matthew Makinson h-t), Jamie Watson (Ryan Rainey h-t); Tony McNamee (Stephen Doherty h-t); David Cawley (Gavin McAteer 60), Gavin McAteer (Dylan McAteer h-t); Aaron McLaughlin (Max Hutchison h-t) Max Johnston (Patrick Ferry 77), Patrick Ferry (Kyle Galloway h-t).
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