Late penalty seals victory for Harps
FINN HARPS 2 SLIGO ROVERS 1
A 94th minute penalty broke Sligo Rovers’ hearts on Saturday evening as the BIt o’Red fell to a 2- 1 defeat at the hands of neighbours Finn Harps in Ballybofey.
Raffaele Cretaro’s 59th minute goal gave Rovers the lead, but Harps made it 1- 1 ten minutes later through Killian Cantwell with his first goal for the club.
In late drama, Ciaran O’Connor was awarded a penalty in stoppage time, the Dundalk loanee scored the rebound to give Harps a well deserved lead with seconds left on the clock.
Dave Robertson’s men came into this game knowing that a victory would be crucial, having picked up their first win the previous week against Bray Wanderers at The Showgrounds.
But, given Rovers’ failure to beat Harps on any occasion last season, many fans would have feared the worst for this fixture with Ollie Horgan’s side.
The visitors started the game well, with Kieran Sadlier’s cross field ball coming to Cretaro – his effort though, blocked by Ciaran Coll.
Sadlier was causing problems early on for the hosts, but they managed to contain his threat. Coll was invovled again, this time conceding possession to Ayunga who played in Cretaro. The Tubbercurry man found Sadlier in space, but his shot into a crowded box was well wide of the intended target.
In a first- half that lacked any real shots on target, Ayunga was looking the most likely to threaten the goal. As half- time approached, he headed a Sadlier cross just wide of the mark – although he was under pressure from the Harps defence.
Jonny Bonner almost gave Harps the lead on 55 minutes. Harps were enjoying a purple patch and refused to give up possession, before Bonner unleashed a driving shot at goal which looked destined for the net, but Micheal Schlingermann did excellent to tip it over the bar to avert danger.
Rovers seemed inspired by the save from the Mayo man in goals, and went down the opposite end minutes later to take the lead.
John Russell’s through ball was perfect for Cretaro, who only needed to slot past Ciaran Gallagher in goal to give Rovers a 1- 0 lead.
Rovers really should have kicked on from there, but they failed to do so and it wasn’t long before Horgan’s men clawed their way back into the game.
A free- kick from Bonner was headed into the danger zone by Ethan Boyle, eventually falling to the feet of Cantwell who smashed it past Schlingermann to make it 1- 1.
Both sides went on in search of a late winner, but the hosts were looking the most likely to emerge with the three points from a scrappy affair.
Caolan McAleer and Bonner both came close in the later stages of the game, but Harps were in dreamland when referee Arnold Hunter awarded a penalty on 94 minutes.
Ciaran O’Connor appeared to be taken down in the penalty box by Tobi Adebayo- Rowling. The Dundalk loanee claimed the penalty himself, and although Schlingermann saved the initial effort, the striker made no mistake with the rebound to make it 2- 1 to Harps with seconds left on the clock.
Rovers travel to Galway on Friday night where they meet fellow strugglers Galway United at Eamonn Deacy Park where a win is vital for both Rovers’ season, and Dave Robertson’s future as manager of the Bit o’Red.
Rovers now sit in 11th place, second bottom, with just Galway United below them,
Shane Keegan’s side have played one game fewer than Rovers as a result of their meeting with Derry City being postponed due to the sudden death of captain Ryan McBride.
A win for Galway on Friday would take them above the Bit o’Red once again, so it is vital that Rovers do not lose.
FINN HARPS: Ciaran Gallagher; Damien McNulty ( Eddie Dsane, 66), Kilian Cantwell, Gareth Harkin, Ciaran Coll, Jonny Bonner, Ethan Boyle, Sean Houston, Caolan McAleer, Danny Morrissey ( Mickey Funston, 94), Ciaran O’Connor.
SLIGO ROVERS: Michael Schlingermann; Tobi Adabayo- Rowling, Michel Leahy, Kyle Callan- McFadden, Liam Martin; John Russell, Craig Roddan, Chris Kenny, Kieran Sadlier; Raffaele Cretaro ( Mikey Place, 86), Jonah Ayunga ( Matty Stevens, 71).
Referee: Arnold Hunter