Patrick Ferry on the double as Finn Harps defeat Sligo Rovers in friendly

Patrick Ferry’s first-half double fired Finn Harps to a pre-season derby win over Sligo Rovers at Finn Park on Saturday afternoon.

The Gweedore man netted twice to earn Darren Murphy’s side a come-from-behind win after an early opener by Wilson Waweru.

Until last month’s 2-2 draw with Derry City, it had been 11 years since Harps hosted a pre-season friendly at Finn Park. Like the old one about the busses coming along, Harps fans had a second chance to see their side ahead of Saturday’s First Division opener against Longford Town at Bishopsgate.

Harps held on to their advantage for over an hour after Ferry’s brace, sending them into the competitive campaign on a winning note.

Ellis Chapman ought to have scored from inside the six-yard box in the second minute when he was picked out by Fabrice Hartmann, but Waweru opened the scoring six minutes later.

Harps ‘keeper Tim Hiemer saved from Simon Power - who earlier whizzed narrowly over the top on the gallop - at the expense of a corner, but when Sligo recycled from the set piece, Waweru - a winter signing from Galway United - curled flawlessly to the far corner.

Hiemer thwarted Hartmann with Sligo on top in the opening exchanges and the offside flag of assistant referee Tony O’Loughlin chalked off a second goal for Waweru.

Harps sparked to life and drew level in the 16th minute as young guns Aaron McLaughlin and Ferry combined. McLaughlin whipped in from the right and Ferry flung himself perfectly to head the equaliser past Ed McGinty.

Eleven minutes later, Harps were in front as Ferry struck after superb work by Success Edogun.

It took another fine stop by Hiemer, this time from Chapman, to keep Harps ahead late in the first half.

Tim Clancy, the manager of Cork City, due in Ballybofey for a First Division clash on February 23, was among a sparse enough attendance.

With 14 minutes to go, only a lick of paint stopped Power from levelling, his effort cannoning back off a post.

Finn Harps: Tim Hiemer (Oisin Cooney 62); Jamie Watson, Matthew Makinson (Noe Baba h-t), Conor Tourish, (Matthew Makinson (74) Shane McMonagle; David Cawley, Tony McNamee (Max Hutchison 62); Adam McLaughlin (Stephen Doherty h-t), Ryan Flood (Mark Mbuli 62), Patrick Ferry (Max Johnston 74); Ryan Flood; Success Edogun (Trialist 74).

Sligo Rovers: Ed McGinty; Charlie Wigget (Conor Reynolds 70), Trialist, Nando Pijnaker, Reece Hutchinson; Niall Morahan, Connor Malley (William Fitzgerald); Fabrice Hartmann (Kaolin Barlow 70), Ellis Chapman (Stefan Radosavljevic 86), Simon Power; Wilson Waweru (Owen Elding 76).

Referee: Richard Storey.