SLIGO ROVERS manager Liam Buckley believes Finn Harps will be a stronger opponent for Premier Division sides this season.
Harps open their 2020 campaign tonight against the Bit O’Red at Finn Park.
And Sligo boss Buckley, who has long been an admirer of Harps manager Ollie Horgan, expected the Donegal outfit to be a stern test.
“I’ve no doubt Ollie will be playing down Harps and we are whatever else,” Buckley said ahead of the game.
“But you can see by the signings with the likes of Barry McNamee that there is a greater strength and backing there this year so that is the challenge for any team that goes up there.
“That said, all that concerns us is our group. We’ve got to work extremely hard, it’ll be a dog rough league again and even harder in each game this season.
“If we have aspirations of improving on last year, we’ve got to go into every game and show that we are good enough do so.”
Sligo have added former Harps player Jesse Devers to their ranks and he can expect to be included tonight in the squad. Ex-Harps man Regan Donelon is out with a shoulder injury while John Mahon (broken leg) is also absence, but Sligo will give a late fitness test to Lewis Banks.
Ballybofey man Johnny Dunleavy and Ramelton’s Kyle Callan-McFadden will be vying for inclusion.
Buckley said: “The lads are looking forward to it. We really want to start well and it’s a game to be excited about.
“We’ve brought the new players in to add to what we retained from 2019 and I think they will.
“They’re all here with a point to prove, be it coming into a new league or moving clubs or whatever else. They’ve bedded in well so far.”
Sligo are expected to bring a large traveling support to Finn Park with a big interest reported in the Yeats County.
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