Glamour friendlies a mixed blessing

TUESDAY evening’s long haul up to Donegal turned out to be far more rewarding than we had any right to expect.

The appearance of Roy Keane and his Ipswich Town side was the magnet, but it was a spirited showing and ultimately a deserved victory for Finn Harps which made the evening a most enjoyable one.

In the great scheme of things, a friendly game between Irish and English clubs doesn’t amount to a whole hill of beans, perhaps, but trying telling that to wide-eyed young Harps fans who, having besieged Keano for autographs before the game, ended up roaring on their local heroes as the First Division Donegal side — containing a number of players not very much older than some of the autograph seekers — ran out 2-1 winners to claim a notable scalp.