Finn Harps 2
Sligo Rovers 1
Alan Foley reports from Ballybofey
A 94TH-MINUTE PENALTY helped Finn Harps to secure the three points in the north-west derby against Sligo Rovers tonight in Ballybofey.
Ciaran O’Connor’s spot-kick was saved by Michael Schlingermann in the Sligo goal but the on-loan Dundalk striker tucked home the rebound to the delight of the home support.
The concession of the penalty — after Tobi Adabayo-Rowling put his hands on O’Connor’s back following a cross from Ethan Boyle — was certainly avoidable. Afterwards, sections of the Sligo support were vociferous in their criticism of manager Dave Robertson.
A minute before the hour-mark, Raffaele Cretaro swept a John Russell pass beyond Harps goalkeeper Ciaran Gallagher to give Sligo the lead. The goal came at a stage in the game where Harps had looked the stronger team, going close on a couple of occasions after making a competent start to the second half.
However, Kilian Cantwell levelled for the Donegal team on 68 minutes when he stabbed home after Boyle’s header fell his way from a Jonny Bonner free-kick. O’Connor did seem to be pushed just before Cantwell scored but that mattered little with the goal given.
Chances were few and far between initially and it took until the 18th minute for either goalkeeper to be forced into a save. Cantwell, the Harps centre-back, played a square ball that was seized upon by Jonah Ayunga and the Kenyan’s shot was touched into the side-netting by Gallagher.
The home team put Sligo under pressure in the 31st minute following a scramble. Ciaran Coll had a shot blocked in a crowded penalty area and Cantwell’s follow-up was cleared by Kyle Callan-McFadden.
Seven minutes before the interval, Ayunga headed wide following an appealing cross from Kieran Sadlier, who was causing Harps bother down their right.
The hosts had another half-chance on 42 minutes when Damien McNulty’s goalward header from a corner by Bonner was headed to safety by Cretaro.
Still scoreless when the second half started, Harps almost went in front on 50 minutes when Schlingermann in the Sligo goal had to get behind a strike from Ciaran O’Connor and Sean Houston saw his effort thereafter blocked by Michael Leahy.
Harps started the second half well, with Bonner’s delicate chip touched over the crossbar by Schlingermann and then Boyle headed just wide from Aidan McAleer’s corner that followed.
With both teams looking as though they’d be taking a point apiece home there was one large twist in the tale.
FINN HARPS: Ciaran Gallagher; Damien McNulty (Eddie Dsane, 66), Kilian Cantwell, Ciaran Coll, Gareth Harkin; Caolan McAleer, Ethan Boyle, Jonny Bonner, Aidan McAleer; Sean Houston, Ciaran O’Connor.
SLIGO ROVERS: Michael Schlingermann; Tobi Adabayo-Rowling, Michel Leahy, Kyle Callan-McFadden, Liam Martin; John Russell, Craig Roddan, Chris Kenny, Kieran Sadlier; Raffaele Cretaro, Jonah Ayunga (Matty Stevens, 71).
Referee: Arnold Hunter
