Finn Harps are to be featured as one of three home friendlies Derry City have lined up at Ryan McBride Stadium.
The Candystripes announced their preseason fixture list last night, opening to an away against Drogheda 17 January, KO 7.30pm at United Park.
City are set to play ties against fellow Brandywell tenants Institute and NIFL Championship highflyers Portadown in the coming weeks.
News of Harps friendly means that it will be one of two North-West derby’s set to place in less than a month. Harps play their 2nd league game of the campaign of the SSE Airtricity League campaign against City February 21.
Harps will be hoping to build on last season as they narrowly avoided relegation.
With lots of ins and outs this window their preparation going into preseason has been far from ideal likes of Colm Deasy, Joshua Smith, Nathan Boyle and goalkeeper Ciaran Gallagher. The Ballybofey men have recruited Shane McEleney, Karl O’Sullivan, Mark Russell to soften the blow. Harps also secured a loan move for Derry City player Adrian Delap who links up with his former Ireland schoolboy coach Ollie Horgan.
The Derry men will be looking to improve from the last campaign in a bid to close the gap on the likes of Dundalk and Shamrock Rovers. City have already added the likes of Walter Figueira from Waterford and Conor Clifford from St. Pats whilst also welcoming back Conor McCormack from Cork City to bolster their midfield.
Irish underage international Stephen Mallon has also joined the Derry ranks arriving on Loan from Sheffield United. The Belfast native will be hoping to replicate the form of fellow Sheffield United player David Parkhouse who earned rave reviews amongst the Derry faithful last season.
Harps have other friendlies in the pipeline against Galway, Athlone, Longford and UCD before they open their league campaign against Sligo Rovers at Finn Park February 14.
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