Details

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

1Ed McGinty Goalkeeper
2Lewis Banks Defender
4Shane Blaney Defender 90'
19Paddy Kirk Defender 40'
7Will Fitzgerald Midfielder
8Niall Morahan Midfielder
22David Cawley 34 Midfielder
26Garry Buckley 28 Midfielder
9Aidan Keena Forward 3', 85'
14Karl O’Sullivan Forward 7'
27Max Mata 11 Forward
30Richard Brush Goalkeeper
5Robbie McCourt Defender
11Seamas Keogh 27 Midfielder
12Mark Byrne Midfielder
25Cillian Heaney Forward
28Nando Pijnaker 26 Defender
33Peter Maguire Defender
34Kailin Barlow 22 Midfielder
41Eanna Clancy Defender

Finn Harps

1Mark McGinley Goalkeeper
2Conor Tourish Defender
3Regan Donelon 10 Defender
9Rob Slevin Defender
15Jose Carrillo Defender
24Ethan Boyle Defender 40'
11Barry McNamee Midfielder
22Ryan Rainey Midfielder 43'
8Eric McWoods Forward
9Yoyo Mahdy Forward
33Filip Mihaljevic 12 Forward
99Gavin Mulreany Goalkeeper
40Gerard Doherty Goalkeeper
Dylan Duncan 9 Midfielder 61'
30Damian Duffy Midfielder
11Jesse Devers Midfielder
12Luke Rudden 33 Forward
10Mark Timlin 3 Midfielder
31Nathan Logue Midfielder
17Elie-Gael N’Zeyi Midfielder
  • Thanks for being with me tonight and see you again soon

  • 90'

    Full Time: Sligo Rovers-3 Finn Harps-0

  • Blaney is booked for an accidental high boot on Rudden

  • 85'

    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

  • 83'

    And the final change sees Luke Rudden replace Mihaljevic for Harps

  • 83'

    And the final change sees Luke Rudden replace Mihaljevic for Harps

  • 81'

    Big moment for youngster Kailin Barlow, making his first appearance of the season, replacing home captain David Cawley

  • 81'

    Big moment for youngster Kailin Barlow, making his first appearance of the season, replacing home captain David Cawley

  • 79'

    Mark Timlin comes on for Regan Donelon

  • 79'

    Mark Timlin comes on for Regan Donelon

  • 78'

    Big save Ed McGinty! McWoods gets in space and lashes a cross/shot across goal which McGinty repels

  • 78'

    Just twelve minutes remain if Ollie Horgan's side are to salvage something

  • 68'

    Seamus Keogh comes on for home forward Mata

  • 68'

    Seamus Keogh comes on for home forward Mata

  • 68'

    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

  • 65'

    Finn Harps are dominating the ball, playing some neat stuff but their good work is undone as Boyle balloons his cross out of play

  • 61'

    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

  • 54'

    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

  • 46'

    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

  • 46'

    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

  • 45'

    Half Time: Sligo Rovers-2 Finn Harps-0. Join us for the second half shortly!

  • 43'

    Moments after being lucky to somehow avoid a booking, Rainey again makes a reckless foul, tripping Mata needlessly. He'll need to be careful

  • 40'

    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

  • 35'

    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

  • 24'

    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

  • 22'

    Lewis Banks has been heavily involved so far and his next involvement is a cross which Max Mata heads narrowly over the top

  • 12'

    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

  • 3'

    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!

  • 1'

    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

Past Meetings

(Round 11)
0 - 1
LOI Men's Premier Division
Finn Park

Finn Harps v Sligo Rovers

(Round 6)
3 - 1
LOI Men's Premier Division
The Showgrounds

Sligo Rovers v Finn Harps

(Series 32)
2 - 2
LOI Men's Premier Division
Finn Park

Finn Harps v Sligo Rovers

(Series 23)
0 - 1
LOI Men's Premier Division
The Showgrounds

Sligo Rovers v Finn Harps

(Series 14)
1 - 2
LOI Men's Premier Division
Finn Park

Finn Harps v Sligo Rovers

(Series 5)
1 - 0
LOI Men's Premier Division
The Showgrounds

Sligo Rovers v Finn Harps

(Series 10)
3 - 1
LOI Men's Premier Division
The Showgrounds

Sligo Rovers v Finn Harps

(Series 1)
1 - 0
LOI Men's Premier Division
Finn Park

Finn Harps v Sligo Rovers

3 - 1
LOI Men's Premier Division
The Showgrounds

Sligo Rovers FC v Finn Harps FC

2 - 0
LOI Men's Premier Division
Finn Park

Finn Harps FC v Sligo Rovers FC

1 - 1
LOI Men's Premier Division
The Showgrounds

Sligo Rovers FC v Finn Harps FC

1 - 2
LOI Men's Premier Division
Finn Park

Finn Harps FC v Sligo Rovers FC

1 - 2
LOI Men's Premier Division
Finn Park

Finn Harps FC v Sligo Rovers FC

0 - 0
LOI Men's Premier Division
The Showgrounds

Sligo Rovers FC v Finn Harps FC

2 - 1
LOI Men's Premier Division
Finn Park

Finn Harps FC v Sligo Rovers FC

7:45 pm
LOI Men's Premier Division
The Showgrounds

Sligo Rovers FC v Finn Harps FC

3
LOI Men's Premier Division
Finn Park

Finn Harps FC v Sligo Rovers FC

1 - 1
LOI Men's Premier Division
The Showgrounds

Sligo Rovers FC v Finn Harps FC

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

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.