Sligo Rovers 0
Finn Harps 0
SLIGO ROVERS WILL spend the mid-season break in the bottom three following a dull 0-0 draw with Finn Harps at The Showgrounds.
Just two points separated the sides coming into this game, with Sligo sitting in the relegation zone on 16 points, while Harps occupied 8th spot with 18 points.
You have to look back to 2008 to find the last time Rovers defeated their Donegal counterparts in the league, although the two sides did spend a portion of that time in different leagues.
In a first half that really lacked any oomph, it was Ollie Horgan’s side who had the first real shot at goal, although their manager had to watch from the stand as he was suspended.
Dundalk loanee Ciaran O’Connor had the first chance of the game, although his effort trickled wide of Micheal Schlingermann’s post.
It was the hosts who injected life into the first-half, with Raff Cretaro dancing around the Harps defence before unleashing a piledriver towards goal, only managing to smack the crossbar, much to the relief of Ciaran Gallagher in goal.
The Bit O’Red came close again minutes later when Kieran Sadlier’s cross was sent over the bar by Cretaro.
The second-half did little to entertain the crowd of 1,876, although Gerard Lyttle’s men did go close to opening the scoring on 46 minutes. Following link-up play with Jonah Ayunga, Sadlier’s cross was begging to be tapped into the back of the net, but Cretaro couldn’t get to it in time.
And while there was plenty of energy in the game, neither goalkeeper could exactly boast about being the busier of the two.
Both teams are still firmly in a relegation battle and will have some work to do, particularly up front as shots on goal were hard to come by in a sun soaked Showgrounds.
Perhaps this game will be most notable for being the final game of Michael Funston’s career, as he bows out of League of Ireland football following a long career.
Sligo Rovers: Micheal Schlingermann, Tobi Adebayo-Rowling, Regan Donelon, Michael Leahy, Kyle Callan-McFadden, Mikey Place (Craig Roddan, 70), Gary Boylan, John Russell, Kieran Sadlier, Raffaele Cretaro (Chris Kenny, 89), Jonah Aunga.
Subs: Shaun Patton, Martin Walsh, John Mahon, Seamus Sharkey.
Finn Harps: Ciaran Gallagher, Damien McNulty, Kilian Cantwell, Packie Mailey, Ciaran Coll, Caolan McAleer (Michael Funston, 90), Ethan Boyle, Paddy McCourt (Jonny Bonner, 63), Sean Houston, Eddie Dsane (Gareth Harkin, 77), Ciaran O’Connor.
Subs: Gareth Doherty, Simon McGlynn, Harry Doherty.
Referee: Rob Rogers
The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!