3 v 0 
Finn HarpsDetails
| Date | Time | League | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18 June 2022 | 7:45 pm | LOI Men's Premier Division | 2022 |
Match Report
Sligo claim home win over Harps
John Russell’s first official game as manager of Sligo Rovers ended in a comfortable 3-0 home win over strugglers Finn Harps at the Showgrounds.
A blistering start saw quickfire goals from Aidan Keena and Karl O’Sullivan inside the opening 10 minutes.
Despite improving, Harps were unable to score, and Keena scored his second five minutes from time for Rovers to leapfrog Bohemians back into fifth place.
Sligo started like a side keen to impress their new manager, ferociously pressing Harps back from the get-go. And neat interplay eventually led to Karl O’Sullivan slipping in Lewis Banks whose dangerous cross was only parried by Alan McGinley as far as the lurking Aidan Keena who tucked home.
Just moments later and it was 2-0. Shane Blaney carried the ball out from defence and helped by a breezy wind, his long ball carried all the way up the field. McGinley hared out but misjudged its flight allowing O’Sullivan to nip in, round McGinley and gleefully stroke home.
Finn Harps, to their credit, came back into it and Eric McWoods forced a one-handed stop from home keeper Ed McGinty. And visiting midfielder Ryan Rainey could count himself fortunate to not be sent off after two rash challenges in quick succession only yielded a single booking.
New signing, Dylan Duncan made his Harps debut, introduced at half time by Ollie Horgan. Although he was booked for diving, Duncan’s crisp passing and slick exchanges with McWoods helped Harps dominate the territory. Imperatively, however they were unable to threaten McGinty’s goal.
Indeed, it was Keena who came closest to scoring next, but he fired high after being played in on the counterattack. Yet, after persistent work from O’Sullivan, Keena soon had his second heading home from close range to seal the points.
Next up for Harps is a home game with St Patrick’s Athletic, something they could do with points from. Sligo travel to Drogheda, undoubtedly buoyed by a clinical performance here and three points to boot.
Sligo Rovers
| 1 | Ed McGinty Goalkeeper |  |
| 2 | Lewis Banks Defender | |
| 4 | Shane Blaney Defender | 90' |
| 19 | Paddy Kirk Defender | 40' |
| 7 | Will Fitzgerald Midfielder | |
| 8 | Niall Morahan Midfielder | |
| 22 | David Cawley 34 Midfielder | |
| 26 | Garry Buckley 28 Midfielder | |
| 9 | Aidan Keena Forward | 3', 85' |
| 14 | Karl O’Sullivan Forward | 7' |
| 27 | Max Mata 11 Forward | |
| 30 | Richard Brush Goalkeeper | |
| 5 | Robbie McCourt Defender | |
| 11 | Seamas Keogh 27 Midfielder | |
| 12 | Mark Byrne Midfielder | |
| 25 | Cillian Heaney Forward | |
| 28 | Nando Pijnaker 26 Defender | |
| 33 | Peter Maguire Defender | |
| 34 | Kailin Barlow 22 Midfielder | |
| 41 | Eanna Clancy Defender |
Timeline
| 9. Aidan Keena | 3' | |
| 14. Karl O'Sullivan | 7' | |
| 3. Paddy Kirk | 40' | |
| 40' | 5. Ethan Boyle | |
| 43' | 22. Ryan Rainey | |
| Garry Buckley Nando Pijnaker | 45' | |
| 45' | Yousef Mahdy Dylan Duncan | |
| 61' | 56. Dylan Duncan | |
| Max Mata Seamas Keogh | 68' | |
| 79' | Regan Donelon Mark Timlin | |
| David Cawley Kailin Barlow | 81' | |
| 82' | Filip Mihaljevic Luke Rudden | |
| 9. Aidan Keena | 85' | |
| 4. Shane Blaney | 90' |
Past Meetings
|
(Round 11)
0 - 1LOI Men's Premier Division
Finn Park Finn Harps v Sligo Rovers |
|
(Round 6)
3 - 1LOI Men's Premier Division
The Showgrounds Sligo Rovers v Finn Harps |
|
(Series 32)
2 - 2LOI Men's Premier Division
Finn Park Finn Harps v Sligo Rovers |
|
(Series 23)
0 - 1LOI Men's Premier Division
The Showgrounds Sligo Rovers v Finn Harps |
|
(Series 14)
1 - 2LOI Men's Premier Division
Finn Park Finn Harps v Sligo Rovers |
|
(Series 5)
1 - 0LOI Men's Premier Division
The Showgrounds Sligo Rovers v Finn Harps |
|
(Series 10)
3 - 1LOI Men's Premier Division
The Showgrounds Sligo Rovers v Finn Harps |
|
(Series 1)
1 - 0LOI Men's Premier Division
Finn Park Finn Harps v Sligo Rovers |
Officials
| Referee |
|---|
| Damien MacGraith |
Ground
| The Showgrounds |
|---|
| The Showgrounds - Sligo Rovers F.C., Magheraboy Road, Knappagh Beg, Sligo, Sligo Municipal Borough District, County Sligo, Connacht, F91 P523, Ireland |
Final Whistle
Get all the latest news, reports, results, fixtures, statistics and tables from the SSE Airtricity Leagues, All Ireland League as well as Inter county and club Gaelic Games.
Thanks for being with me tonight and see you again soon
Full Time: Sligo Rovers-3 Finn Harps-0
Blaney is booked for an accidental high boot on Rudden
3-0 and game over! Keena scores his second of the night after O'Sullivan's persistence pays off. His cross is initially blocked but he delivers again and Keena effortlessly heads home
And the final change sees Luke Rudden replace Mihaljevic for Harps
And the final change sees Luke Rudden replace Mihaljevic for Harps
Big moment for youngster Kailin Barlow, making his first appearance of the season, replacing home captain David Cawley
Big moment for youngster Kailin Barlow, making his first appearance of the season, replacing home captain David Cawley
Mark Timlin comes on for Regan Donelon
Mark Timlin comes on for Regan Donelon
Big save Ed McGinty! McWoods gets in space and lashes a cross/shot across goal which McGinty repels
Just twelve minutes remain if Ollie Horgan's side are to salvage something
Seamus Keogh comes on for home forward Mata
Seamus Keogh comes on for home forward Mata
The visitors are utterly dominant and playing some really intricate stuff, helped by Duncan's arrival. Yet the efficiency of Rovers remains a very real threat as Keena is sprung on the counter attack but shoots high
Finn Harps are dominating the ball, playing some neat stuff but their good work is undone as Boyle balloons his cross out of play
Dylan Duncan\'s most significant impact in a Finn Harps shirt so far but its not one he\'ll want to remember as the new signing is booked for a dramatic dive
Its well and truly raining at the Showgrounds, that's summer weather in Ireland for you. Harps looking sprightly but haven't created any chances yet
Second half started- couple of subs to update you on- Nando Pijnacker replaces Garry Buckley for Sligo. New signing Dylan Duncan has been introduced for Finn Harps replacing Yousef Mahdy
Second half started- couple of subs to update you on- Nando Pijnacker replaces Garry Buckley for Sligo. New signing Dylan Duncan has been introduced for Finn Harps replacing Yousef Mahdy
Half Time: Sligo Rovers-2 Finn Harps-0. Join us for the second half shortly!
Moments after being lucky to somehow avoid a booking, Rainey again makes a reckless foul, tripping Mata needlessly. He'll need to be careful
Ryan Rainey kicks out at Keena and in the scuffling afterwards, the referee books both Sligo's Paddy Kirk and Harp's Ethan Boyle for their arguing
Tempo has dropped a bit now. McWoods slings in a cross that is missed by Garry Buckley but luckily for him, there is no one in a Finn Harps shirt to capitalise
Filip Mihaljevic gets space on the right of the area and his tame shot is nearly spilled over the line by McGinty!! But the home goalkeeper recovers to collect in the nick of time
Lewis Banks has been heavily involved so far and his next involvement is a cross which Max Mata heads narrowly over the top
A furiously fast start to this game. From a Rovers corner, Banks is dispossessed and Eric McWoods sprints into the area, drawing a one-handed stop from Ed McGinty. Finn Harp's best chance so far
Sligo lead inside three minutes!! Lewis Banks finds Karl O'Sullivan, his cross is parried by Mark McGinley and home forward Aidan Keena has a tap in!
Underway at a windy Showgrounds
Good evening, I'm Rory Morrow and welcome to tonight's coverage of Sligo Rovers vs Finn Harps here on FinalWhistle.ie