Details

Date Time League Season
15 July 2021 6:00 pm UEFA Conference League 2021/22

Match Report

Sligo make Europe exit

Sligo Rovers’ 3-1 loss on aggregate means they are out of the Europa Conference League after failing to overcome Hafnarfjordur over two legs in the first round of qualifying.  

The League of Ireland outfit fell to a 2-1 defeat on the night, courtesy of Steven Lennon’s brace.

The striker also scored the winner in the first leg and proved the key difference between the two sides.

The score line was harsh on Sligo who were the better team especially in the first half on the night but weren’t clinical enough in front of goal.

Roared on by 400 returning fans to the Showgrounds, the home side created relentless pressure from the off and were camped inside the opposing half for lengthy periods.

Striker Romeo Parkes spurned chances in the first half and Rovers also failed to take their opportunities from their numerous set pieces.

Going into the end of the first half, spirits were high as the general consensus was that Hafnarfiordur were there for the taking.

However, Lennon’s first goal came completely against the run of play.

A contentious free kick was awarded on the edge of the touchline, which was whipped into the box and the Sligo defence reacted poorly and failed to clear their lines.

The ball fell to the potent attacker who made no mistake in powering the ball into the net and sparking shock amongst the Sligo faithful.

Things went from bad to worse at the start of the second half, as the away side were awarded a penalty after Regan Donelon committed a clumsy challenge on Jonaton Ingi Jonsson.

Lennon stepped up and produced an unstoppable top right corner finish that left Sligo goalkeeper Luke McNicholas with no chance.

Immediately after going further behind, David Cawley appeared to have reduced the deficit but was ruled offside.

Sligo pulled a goal back through Johnny Kenny’s late penalty but failed to create enough in the second half.  

Hafnarfjordur face Norwegian side Rosenborg BK next Thursday in the second round of qualification.

Sligo Rovers

32Luke McNicholas Goalkeeper
2Lewis Banks Defender
14Shane Blaney Defender
19Regan Donelon 4 Defender
26Garry Buckley Midfielder
7Jordan Gibson Forward
8Niall Morahan Midfielder
9Ryan DeVries 24 Forward
10Walter Figueira Forward
22David Cawley 3 Midfielder
27Romeo Parkes Forward
Adam McDonnell Midfielder
3Colm Horgan 22 Defender
4Danny Kane 19 Defender
11Seamas Keogh Midfielder
12Mark Byrne Midfielder
18John Russell Midfielder
20Darren Collins Forward
24Johnny Kenny 9 Forward
25Cillian Heaney Forward
30Richard Brush Goalkeeper
33Peter Maguire Defender
38Conor Walsh Goalkeeper
  • 90'

    Full time: Sligo Rovers 1-2 Hafnarfjordur (1-3)

  • 84'

    GOAL! Johnny Kenny dispatches the spot kick, sending the keeper the wrong way.

  • 84'

    Johnny Kenny stands over the penalty.

  • 84'

    Penalty to Sligo Rovers for a push in the back.

  • 80'

    Seamus Keogh goes through one on one and has a shot on goal but his effort is well saved by Gunnar Nielsen.

  • 72'

    Colm Horgan and Danny Kane replace David Cawley and Regan Donelon.

  • 65'

    David Cawley's free kick is whipped in and finds Romeo Parkes but he heads wide from close range.

  • 59'

    Ryan De Vries is replaced by Johnny Kenny.

  • 56'

    Donelan's free kick is punched away by Gunnar Nielsen and the ball eventually falls to Donelan once more and his strike from outside the box narrowly goes over the bar.

  • 55'

    Yellow card for Gunnarsson for a foul on Lewis Banks as he is impeded for an elbow. Free kick on the edge of the box for Sligo.

  • 54'

    Figuera wins a corner for Sligo, desperate to find a way back into the tie after such a dominant but costly first half.

  • 50'

    David Cawley appeared to have scored for Sligo but he is ruled offside by the line official.

  • 49'

    GOAL! Lennon converts the penalty with an unstoppable top right corner finish. Could be tie over now!

  • 48'

    Penalty to Hafnarfjardar as Regan Donelon makes a clumsy challenge with his arms around Jonaton Ingi Jonsson on the edge of the box. Nightmare start to the second half.

  • 46'

    We're back underway.

  • 45'

    Half time: Sligo Rovers 0-1 Hafnarfjardar (0-2)

  • 45'

    The fourth official has indicated there will be a minimum of one additional minute played at the end of the first half.

  • 44'

    GOAL! Completely against the run of play as a contentious free kick is whipped in and isn't dealt with and the ball falls to Steven Lennon who powers the ball into the net. Such a blow for Sligo who were firmly on top!

  • 38'

    Cawley puts a great ball into the box that picks out Parkes whose header just goes over the bar.

  • 32'

    Gibson has a shot from outside the box that sails wide.

  • 32'

    Play is back underway and Sligo are back on the attack once more, gaining another corner.

  • 30'

    A break in play as Gunnarsson is down with a nosebleed and is receiving treatment.

  • 29'

    Again the corner comes to nothing. Sligo need to capitalise on this dominance.

  • 28'

    Sligo are camped inside the Hafnarfjardar half and it is relentless pressure from the home side and they have another chance from a corner to break the deadlock.

  • 27'

    Cawley's corner is headed away by the Hafnarfjardar defence.

  • 26'

    Donelan's free kick hits the wall and goes out for a corner kick.

  • 25'

    Free kick just on the edge of the penalty area as Jordan Gibson is fouled. Reegan Donelan is over the set piece.

  • 24'

    Great pressure from the home side as they are firmly on top thus far.

  • 22'

    Great ball over the top by Figuera that picks out Parkes in the box but the strikers finish is a poor one.

  • 20'

    Huge appeals for a penalty, as a long ball over the top tries to pick out Walter Figuera and the ball hits the defenders arm in the box but the referee waves away the appeals.

  • 16'

    The corner is defended well by the Icelandic side.

  • 15'

    Another corner for Sligo.

  • 12'

    The corner comes to nothing and Hafnarfjardar clear their lines.

  • 11'

    Gibson continues to threaten down the left and wins the games first corner.

  • 11'

    Great start by the home side with Romeo Parkes and Jordan Gibson threatening.

  • 8'

    Play has resumed as both players are okay to continue.

  • 7'

    There will be a break in play as a player for each side is down after a clash of heads.

  • 6'

    Regan Donelon's free kick is whipped in but Lewis Banks' header flies over the bar.

  • 5'

    Rovers have a good opportunity from a free kick on the edge of the box to the right.

  • 4'

    It's a lively start to the game from both sides, with each having half chances early on.

  • 3'

    It's a good atmosphere inside the Showgrounds, with the home crowd firmly behind their side.

  • 2'

    Romeo Parkes breaks into the box and has a shot on goal that is comfortably saved.

  • 1'

    We're underway.

  • The winners of the tie face Norwegian side Rosenborg BK.

  • The teams are out of the tunnel as we approach kick off in front of 400 fans at the Showgrounds.

  • The weather in Sligo is currently 17 degrees Celsius, with a 2% chance of rain, winds of 10 mph and humidity levels of 90%.

  • In direct contrast, Hafnarfjordur have endured a difficult domestic campaign and lie in 10th place in the Urvalsdelid karla with just 12 points from 11 games.

  • Domestically Sligo are in good form though and are level on points with league leaders Shamrock Rovers and third place St Patrick’s Athletic. The second placed side recently secured back-to-back wins, thrashing Bohemians 4-0 and picked up an away win against bottom side Longford.

  • Trailing by a goal to nil, Sligo Rovers will be without midfielder Greg Bolger as he is suspended after picking up a red card in last week's first leg defeat.

  • Hello and welcome to Final Whistle's coverage of tonight's Europa Conference League qualifier between Sligo Rovers and Hafnarfjordur.

Past Meetings

(1st Qualifying Round)
1 - 0
UEFA Conference League
Kaplakriki

Fimleikafelag Hafnarfjardar v Sligo Rovers

Ground

The Showgrounds
The Showgrounds - Sligo Rovers F.C., Magheraboy Road, Knappagh Beg, Sligo, Sligo Municipal Borough District, County Sligo, Connacht, F91 P523, 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.