Mayo's Luke McNicholas joins Finn Harps on loan
After signing a new two-year contract with Sligo Rovers last week, Mayo man Luke McNicholas has agreed a half-season loan deal with Finn Harps.
The former Manulla player, who has been the Rovers number two goalie at The Showgrounds for the past 18 months, expressed his desire to play games to manager Liam Buckley, his appearances having been limited behind number one 'keeper Ed McGinty.
Buckley told sligorovers.com: “Luke came to us privately in the off-season about his desire to play games. He turned 21 this month and we understand his wishes. We didn’t want to lose Luke because we really rate him.
“We know Luke will go out and show his ability. The future is not known so when Luke comes back we don’t what the landscape will be. We’re hoping he comes back with more experience and all the better for this spell with Finn Harps.”
McNicholas said he's very happy to be going out on loan and is looking forward to the opportunity at Finn Harps, where fellow Mayo man Ryan Connolly had a very impressive season in 2020.
“I want to play first-team football,” Luke told his parent club website. “Harps are a Premier Division club so it was the offer that appealed most to me. I know Ollie (Horgan, Finn Harps manager) as I played under him with Ireland at schools level – he is a very good manager and someone I can trust as well.
“There will be competition at Finn Harps but I think I can show what I can do and get into the team. That’s my target. I’m thankful for the gaffer and the club accommodating the move, it’s gone smoothly. I’m looking forward to getting going now.”
McNicholas has been with Rovers for six years. While he has been limited to three senior appearances, Buckley points out that he has been pushing Ed McGinty 'extremely hard' in the past two years.
“I see it every day and I have to give credit to Luke because his contribution to the group has been very important to us. Luke’s game has developed in many aspects. The one area he has missed out on somewhat is first-team experience. Luke has spoken to me privately about his desire to play and we understand it.”
The manager added that giving McNicholas a two-year contract illustrates the club's desire to keep him at The Showgrounds in the long term. For his part, McNicholas said his aim is to be Rovers' number one 'keeper.
Meanwhile, to cover McNicholas' move to Ballybofey, Rovers have signed Richard Brush again – a full 15 years on from his first spell with the club.
Now 36, it's the fourth time Brush has become a Sligo Rovers player. He spent four years with the Bit o' Red club during the early years of the Paul Cook era, a stint that included winning the 2010 FAI Cup, and he returned for the 2012 campaign as Rovers won the league title. He was back for a third occasion in 2014, and now returns again after a spell playing in Northern Ireland.
Buckley said: “When it was decided for Luke to go on loan, Richard was the first name that came to mind. He’s been one of the best goalkeepers in the two leagues for many years.
“We don’t sign anyone with a view to a guaranteed starting place. It’s the drive of competing against each other which will help us succeed, and that is what we want. Ed and Richard will compete for the jersey. I’ve spoken about how we rate Luke, but this is a different type of pressure for Ed now because his competition is someone who has been doing it for 15 years.”