Airtricity League Premier Division: Finn Harps 2 Sligo Rovers 1
It may be early days yet but Finn Harps are the surprise package of the Airtricity League Premier Division as they sit in sixth spot after six matches.
Having suffered an opening day 1-0 home defeat against Cork City and then losing to Bray Wanderers 5-3, Ollie Horgan’s charges have now gone four games unbeaten.
On Saturday night the Donegal club chalked up its first home win of the campaign – in dramatic circumstances with a 94th minute winner.
“A draw would probably have been a fair result. If we had lost that game we would have been very disappointed. We got the breaks, it was harsh on Sligo,” admitted Horgan.
“This was our first home win and it was very important to get something as we now have games against Shamrock Rovers (away), Dundalk (home) and Derry City (away),” he said.
Meanwhile, his counterpart, Dave Roberston, said: “It was devastating from our point of view.
We are very disappointed to lose 2-1 to a penalty in the 93rd minute. It’s tough to take, especially after we went 1-0 up. I would have thought at that point we would be able to go on and get something out of this game.”
Sligo edged a first half of few chances and took the lead on the hour when veteran Raffaele Cretaro found the target.
Harps drew level through defender Killian Cantwell with his first goal for the club on 69 minutes.
Harps pressed hard and got a stoppage-time penalty for a foul on Ciaran O’Connor who scored in the follow-up after Michael Schlingermann initially blocked his spot-kick.
A minute's applause was held prior to the start of the game in memory of former Derry City captain Ryan McBride.
Finn Harps: Gallagher; Boyle, McNulty, (Dsane, 67 mins), Cantwell, Coll; Bonner, Houston, Harkin, McAleer, O’Connor, Morrisey (Funston, 94 mins).
Sligo Rovers: Schlingermann, Adebayo-Rowling, Leahy, McFadden, Roddan, Sadlier, Kenny, Russell, Martin; Cretaro (Place, 86 mins), Ayunga (Stevens. 75 mins).
Referee: A. Hunter (Fermanagh).
