Details

Date Time League Season
28 May 2021 5:45 pm LOI Men's Premier Division 2021

Match Report

Sligo continue winning ways

Sligo Rovers extended their lead at the top of the Premier Division at Finn Park, with a 2-1 win away to north west rivals Finn Harps this evening.

The visitors go into the mid-season break top of the league after picking up 16 points out of a maximum 18, in their last six games.

Finn Harps will be devastated they squandered numerous chances but will be encouraged with their impressive performance that troubled the league leaders.

An entertaining first half was capped with two goals in quick succession, in the sixth and seventh minute.

Robbie McCourt sent a wide ball into the box and keeper Mark McGinley’s punch was poor, with Romeo Parkes pouncing on the loose ball and powering it into the net.

But the away sides lead lasted just a matter of seconds as Finn Harps perfectly responded with an equaliser from Babatunde Owolabi.

The striker was picked out by an excellent cross from Adam Foley and Owolabi made no mistake, scoring the equaliser from close range.

Owolabi was a threat to the Sligo goal throughout and went close just minutes later but was denied by a brilliant double save from man of the match Ed McGinty.

Sligo had their best chance of the match shortly after half time as the league’s joint top goal scorer Foley fired a shot across the face of goal.

Against the run of play, Sligo took the lead after a corner caused problems for the Finn Harps defence, with Lewis Banks powering home from close range with a left footed finish for his first goal of the season.

However, shortly after taking the lead Sligo went down to 10 men as goal scorer Parkes was given his marching orders following an altercation with Kosovar Sadiki, who was booked for his involvement.

Despite their numerical disadvantage, the league leaders held on despite late pressure from the hosts with McGinty pulling off another wonderful double save.

Finn Harps

1Mark McGinley Goalkeeper
4Kosovar Sadiki 17 Defender 84'
5Dave Webster 8 Defender
7Karl O’Sullivan 9 Forward
11Barry McNamee Midfielder
14Mark Coyle Midfielder
16Shane McEleney Defender 85'
19Adam Foley 26 Forward
24Ethan Boyle Defender
28Will Seymore 6 Midfielder
45Babatunde Owolabi Forward 7'
6Ryan Connolly 28 Midfielder
8Johnny Dunleavy 5 Defender
9Sean Boyd 7 Forward
17Mark Russell 4 Defender
20Conor Barry Midfielder
21Stephen Doherty Midfielder
22Ryan Rainey Midfielder
25Patrick McGarvey Goalkeeper
26Tony McNamee 19 Midfielder

Sligo Rovers

1Ed McGinty Goalkeeper
2Lewis Banks 3 Defender 60'
21John Mahon Defender
26Garry Buckley Midfielder
5Robbie McCourt Defender
6Greg Bolger Midfielder
7Jordan Gibson Forward
8Niall Morahan Midfielder
10Walter Figueira 24 Forward
12Mark Byrne Midfielder
27Romeo Parkes Forward 6'
63'
3Colm Horgan 2 Defender
9Ryan DeVries Forward
14Shane Blaney Defender
18John Russell Midfielder
19Regan Donelon Defender
24Johnny Kenny 10 Forward
25Cillian Heaney Forward
30Richard Brush Goalkeeper
33Peter Maguire Defender
  • 95'

    Full time: Finn Harps 1-2 Sligo Rovers

  • 95'

    Full time: Finn Harps 1-2 Sligo Rovers

  • 90'

    Wonderful double save by McGinty to deny Finn Harps at the death.

  • 90'

    The fourth official has indicated there will be a minimum of five additional minutes to be played.

  • 85'

    Shane McEleney is booked for simulation.

  • 83'

    Great chance for Gibson who produces a thunderous strike but is denied by McGinley's super save.

  • 74'

    Finn Harps substitution: John Dunleavy replaces David Webster

  • 74'

    Despite their numerical disadvantage Sligo look firmly in control of the contest now.

  • 68'

    Seymour has a chance for the hosts but his shot flies wide.

  • 65'

    Sligo Rovers substitution: Colm Horgan replaces Lewis Banks

  • 63'

    Red card shown to Romeo Parkes after an altercation with Sadiki who is booked for his involvement.

  • 60'

    GOAL! Sligo Rovers lead through Banks, the corner isn't cleared and Lewis Banks powers home from close range with a clean left footed finish for his first goal of the season.

  • 60'

    Corner to Sligo Rovers, their fifth of the evening.

  • 55'

    The home side continue to dominate the league leaders.

  • 55'

    Foley produces a decent effort that flies across the face of goal after being picked out by a good ball by Seymour.

  • 50'

    John Mahon clears the danger but Finn Harps are ruled offside nevertheless.

  • 49'

    Free kick to Finn Harps in a threatening position.

  • 48'

    Finn Harps clear the danger.

  • 47'

    Corner to Sligo Rovers.

  • 46'

    Back underway in the second half.

  • 45'

    Half time: Finn Harps 1-1 Sligo Rovers

  • 45'

    The fourth official has indicated there will be a minimum of one additional minute.

  • 45'

    The home side have been by far the better side in the first half and will feel frustrated the scores are still level with all the chances they've created.

  • 44'

    Owolabi goes through one on one with blistering pace, and the way the striker has been playing you'd be certain he'd score but he puts his shot wide.

  • 41'

    Owolabi again finds the back of the net but is ruled offside. The striker outmuscled Manon with ease and cooly finished as he continues to be a constant threat for Finn Harps.

  • 40'

    At the other end, Owolabi looked to be through after rounding Buckley with ease but the striker who has been impressive in the opening half slightly overruns it.

  • 39'

    Nice ball through by Gibson attempts to pick out Parkes but the striker couldn't quite reach the through ball.

  • 37'

    Thankfully Webster is okay to carry on.

  • 35'

    Break in play as Webster is down receiving treatment.

  • 33'

    Figuera finds himself in acres of space at the back of the box but his shot is high and wide.

  • 31'

    Great chance for Mark Byrne who is picked out by Bolger\'s free kick but the midfielder misses the target from two yards out.

  • 29'

    Owolabi continues to look dangerous and picks out Foley but his shot is scuffed and it remains 1-1.

  • 25'

    Gibson puts a good ball into the box but the resulting shot is high and wide of the Finn Harps goal.

  • 22'

    McNamee again picks out Owolabi in the box but he couldn't quite get the ball out of his feet and Sligo survive.

  • 21'

    Owolabi goes close once more but is denied by a brilliant double save from close range by McGinty, with McNamee the creator involved in the build up.

  • 19'

    There are a few spectators peering through the gates outside Finn Park with chants of "Red Army" being sung.

  • 16'

    What makes the opening period even more impressive, is the fact both sides have played three games in the last seven days!

  • 15'

    Somehow only 15 minutes have elapsed, it is one of the more entertaining and chaotic opening periods I have seen for a long time!

  • 11'

    Owolabi produces a strong header that forces a good save by keeper McGinty.

  • 9'

    Gibson has a shot in space that flies over the crossbar. Frenetic start to proceedings at Finn Park!

  • 9'

    Corner to Sligo Rovers but this time McGinley is competent with the aerial ball.

  • 7'

    GOAL! What a response by Finn Harps and it\'s Owolabi, who was picked out by an excellent cross from Adam Foley, who scored from close range.

  • 6'

    GOAL! Sligo Rovers lead through Romeo Parkes after a good ball in by McCourt and the keeper\'s punch is poor and Parkes powers the ball into the net.

  • 1'

    We're underway.

  • The weather in Donegal is currently 13 degrees Celsius, with a 6% chance of rain and winds of five mph.

  • The last time the two teams met, they played out a 1-1 draw with Ronan Coughlan’s late equaliser cancelling out Sean Boyd’s opener.

  • Sligo come into the game off the back of a vital 1-0 win away to Shamrock Rovers which put them top of the tree, courtesy of Romeo Parkes’ winner.

  • They are one point clear of second place Shamrock Rovers and three ahead of fellow title rivals St Patrick’s Athletic in third.

  • Harps unproductive attack faces a difficult task as they are coming against the league’s best defence, as Rovers have conceded just nine goals in 13 games.

  • Despite so far improving on last season’s eight place finish, they are the league’s third lowest scorers with just 11 goals scored in 13 games which will be a worry for manager Ollie Horgan.

  • The hosts lie in fifth position on 18 points from 13 games and come into the match off the back of a 2-1 victory away to Waterford at the Sportsground.

  • Hello and welcome to Final Whistle's coverage of today's League of Ireland Premier Division matchup between Finn Harps and Sligo Rovers.

Past Meetings

(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
Paul McLaughlin

Ground

Finn Park
Finn Park, Navenny Street, Stranorlar Electoral Division, Lifford-Stranorlar Municipal District, County Donegal, F93 Y27K, Ireland

I am a Sports Journalism & PR graduate from Staffordshire University. During my time at Final Whistle, I have covered the LOI National League, international games and the Women’s National League. Outside of Final Whistle, I am a researcher for World Rugby and a writer for The Rugby Paper.