3 v 2 
Sligo RoversVideo
Details
| Date | Time | League | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19 August 2022 | 8:00 pm | LOI Men's Premier Division | 2022 |
Match Report
Finn Harps beat Sligo Rovers in feisty affair
Finn Harps collected a much-needed three points in their relegation fight as they defeated Sligo Rovers 3-2 in a five-goal thriller at Finn Park.
Visiting manager, John Russell, was boosted by the availability of dangermen Aidan Keena and Karl O’Sullivan for this encounter.
However, the early drama was in the dugout as home manager Ollie Horgan was sent to the stands for sarcastically applauding the referee for booking Harps midfielder Ryan Connolly.
O’Sullivan then went close, but Barry McNamee opened the scoring with a thunderous, left-footed scorcher from range that gave Harps an invaluable lead.
Although Keena was denied by McNamee’s immense defensive recovery, James McKeown had to be alert as he repelled shots from Sligo’s Nando Pijnaker and Will Fitzgerald.
This profligacy was punished when Ryan Rainey bundled a header home from Gary Boylan’s dangerous delivery. Rob Slevin cheekily tried claiming it but the goal was Rainey’s. More importantly, Finn Harps were 2-0 up.
After the interval, Sligo swiftly scored. And it was their deadly duo at the heart of a ruthless counterattack, O’Sullivan playing through Keena who stayed calm and finished well.
As the action seesawed from end-to-end, Finn Park erupted into raucously sarcastic applause as Shane Blaney was booked, Sligo’s first of the night.
Rainey then was adjudged to have been tripped in the box. Despite, the soft nature, Connolly converted the penalty with ease, restoring Harp’s two-goal buffer.
Connolly soon went from hero to zero though as he received his second booking, puling back Max Mata, setting up a nervous final twenty minutes.
Harps were manging well until Ethan Boyle clumsily crashed into Keena, the striker dusted himself down and made it 3-2 with a well-taken spot kick.
Amidst a raft of substitutions, Mata and Blaney spurned glorious headed opportunities and Finn Park could breathe, cherishing a massive result.
With UCD’s loss, Finn Harps now move into the relegation playoff position and will be relieved to see out a frantic ending successfully. They have a break now before their next game against St Patrick’s Athletic on September 2nd.
Sligo host Dundalk next needing points if they are to revive their bid for Europe this season.
Timeline
| 11. Ryan Rainey | 9' | |
| 6. Ryan Connolly | 12' | |
| 11. Barry McNamee | 18' | |
| 8. Eric McWoods | 19' | |
| 11. Ryan Rainey | 36' | |
| 3. Regan Donelon | 40' | |
| Filip Mihaljevic Dylan Duncan | 45' | |
| 47' | 9. Aidan Keena | |
| 54' | 4. Shane Blaney | |
| 62' | 9. Aidan Keena | |
| 6. Ryan Connolly | 68' | |
| 6. Ryan Connolly | 70' | |
| 6. Ryan Connolly | 70' | |
| 71' | Will Fitzgerald Frank Liivak | |
| 81' | 9. Aidan Keena | |
| 82' | Adam McDonnell David Cawley | |
| 82' | Lewis Banks Kailin Barlow | |
| Barry McNamee Liam McGing | 84' | |
| 17. Elie-Gael N'Zeyi | 90' | |
| Eric McWoods Mark Timlin | 90' |
Past Meetings
|
(Round 20)
3 - 0LOI Men's Premier Division
The Showgrounds Sligo Rovers v Finn Harps |
|
(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 |
3 - 1LOI Men's Premier Division
The Showgrounds Sligo Rovers FC v Finn Harps FC |
2 - 0LOI Men's Premier Division
Finn Park Finn Harps FC v Sligo Rovers FC |
1 - 1LOI Men's Premier Division
The Showgrounds Sligo Rovers FC v Finn Harps FC |
1 - 2LOI Men's Premier Division
Finn Park Finn Harps FC v Sligo Rovers FC |
1 - 2LOI Men's Premier Division
Finn Park Finn Harps FC v Sligo Rovers FC |
0 - 0LOI Men's Premier Division
The Showgrounds Sligo Rovers FC v Finn Harps FC |
2 - 1LOI Men's Premier Division
Finn Park Finn Harps FC v Sligo Rovers FC |
7:45 pmLOI Men's Premier Division
The Showgrounds Sligo Rovers FC v Finn Harps FC |
3LOI Men's Premier Division
Finn Park Finn Harps FC v Sligo Rovers FC |
1 - 1LOI Men's Premier Division
The Showgrounds Sligo Rovers FC v Finn Harps FC |
Officials
| Referee |
|---|
| Rob Hennessy |
Ground
| Finn Park |
|---|
| Finn Park, Navenny Street, Stranorlar Electoral Division, Lifford-Stranorlar Municipal District, County Donegal, F93 Y27K, Ireland |
Rory Morrow
QUB Student, passion for Sports Journalism Editor @ The Gown QUB Newspaper Reporter for @ FinalWhistle
Thanks for joining me tonight for that five-goal thriller. Harps now off the bottom, crucially. See you again next time!
Full Time: Harps hold on 3-2!
Four minutes of added time
Nearing injury time as Sligo stream forward, Max Mata plants a header wide
Keena is fouled by a rampaging Boyle. The striker dusts himself down and converts confidently to set up a nervy ending
Frank Liivak replaces Fitzgerald for Sligo, into the last 20 minutes now
Hero to villain! Connolly picks up a second yellow and is sent off
Ryan Connolly converts a penalty after Rainey was fouled, 3-1 Harps!
Adam McDonnell lashes a shot over for Sligo before Keena joins Blaney in the ref's book
Blaney booked which draws ironic cheers from the home crowd
Harps create a few chances in response as Rainey and Ethan Boyle see headers go narrowly high and wide
Keena reduces the deficit as the forward clinically finishes one-on-one from O'Sullivan's pass. 2-1 and game on!
Back underway! Dylan Duncan has replaced the injured Mihaljevic for Finn Harps
Half Time: 2-0 to Finn Harps
A frankly ridiculous booking for Regan Donelon who is pulled back and then booked for protesting the decision. Blaney has also cleared another McNamee attempt off the line as we enter four minutes of first half added time
2-0 to Finn Harps!! Rainey thunders a header home after Gary Boylan's pinpoint delivery! Rob Slevin ran off claiming it but the goal is Rainey's! And Harps won't care, they're 2-0 up either way!
Good chance for the away side as Shane Blaney's long ball sets Keena scampering away and he tees up Will Fitzgerald who shoots straight at McKeown. Max Mata is then sprung free and his teasing cross is just about scrambled behind
Pjnaker shoots from range but James McKeown gets down quickly to save the well-struck attempt
Another yellow card for Finn Harps but this looks really harsh as Eric McWoods is penalised for overzealous pressing on Nando Pijnaker
Barry McNamee scorches a strike into the top corner and Finn Harps lead! What a belter from the home captain!
Another booking for the hosts, Ryan Connolly harshly booked. Ollie Horgan, the home manager, sarcastically applauds and is sent off for his troubles! Drama in the dugouts
After a few let-offs, a Finn Harps player is finally booked. Its Rainey who is shown the yellow card for a foul on Keena
Good start by Sligo here, ex-Harps man O'Sullivan looks in the mood as he whistles a tantalising cross into the box to no avail
Underway!
Sligo make two alterations: dangerous attacking duo Aidan Keena and Karl O'Sullivan, both scorers when these sides last met, are fit to start
For the hosts, just one change. Ryan Rainey replaces the injured Conor Tourish
Good evening and welcome to FinalWhistle.ie's coverage of Finn Harps vs Sligo Rovers in the Premier Division tonight. Kick off at Finn Park is at 8pm and team news is coming shortly