Rovers held by Harps in dismal draw
SLIGO ROVERS FINN HARPS 0 0
SLIGO Rovers will sit in the relegation zone for the mid- season break following Friday night’s dismal 0- 0 draw with Finn Harps at The Showgrounds.
Rovers have now failed to beat their Donegal counterparts in a league game since 2008 - although they have spent a bulk of that time in different leagues, it is still extraordinary.
In a game that was most certainly must win, Rovers failed to really get going, although the same could be said about Ollie Horgan’s side.
Rovers came into this game in 10th place on 16 points, knowing that a win would see them leapfrog Harps and Drogheda into 8th place. Ollie Horgan was forced to watch the game in the stands following his dismissal against Cork City, and it was his side that offered up the first chance of the game.
Dundalk loanee Ciaran O’Connor was first to test the opposition goalkeeper, but Micheál Schlingermann was able to rest easy as the striker’s effort trickled wide of the mark.
Neither side did much to entertain the crowd of over 1,800, but it was Rovers stalwart Raff Cretaro who had the crowd on their feet as the first half drew to a conclusion.
Cretaro easily fought off the Harps defence to unleash an audacious effort at goal, which somehow smacked the crossbar, much to the agony of the Tubbercurry man. Just minutes later, the 35- year- old got on the end of a Kieran Sadlier cross, but could only send his effort wide.
One would have expected more energy from both teams in the second- half, given that this was a crucial meeting between two relegation threatened sides.
But there was little to write home about, and meeting a word count would prove difficult as the second- half continued to be as dull as the opening 45 minutes.
Rovers did start the second half slightly better, when good link- up play between Jonah Ayunga and Kieran Sadlier saw the latter play in a decent cross in front of goal, but Cretaro could not get there in time.
It was evident on Friday night, more so than ever, that Rovers are desperately in need of a striker during the July transfer window.
Although the attacking of both teams on the night left a lot to be desired, and manager Ger Lyttle knows that Rovers have a battle on their hands if they are to beat the drop this season.
With the mid- season break now underway, Gerard Lyttle has a few weeks to go over what he needs in order to save his team from relegation. Rovers have no game until June 17th, when they host Galway United in a must win game.
Sligo Rovers: Micheal Schlingermann, Tobi Adebayo- Rowling, Regan Donelon, Michael Leahy, Kyle Callan- McFadden, Mikey Place ( Craig Roddan, 70), Gary Boylan, John Russell, Kieran Sadlier, Raffaele Cretaro ( Chris Kenny, 89), Jonah Aunga.
Subs: Shaun Patton, Martin Walsh, John Mahon, Seamus Sharkey.
Finn Harps: Ciaran Gallagher, Damien McNulty, Kilian Cantwell, Packie Mailey, Ciaran Coll, Caolan McAleer ( Michael Funston, 90), Ethan Boyle, Paddy McCourt ( Jonny Bonner, 63), Sean Houston, Eddie Dsane ( Gareth Harkin, 77), Ciaran O’Connor.
Subs: Gareth Doherty, Simon McGlynn, Harry Doherty.
Referee: Rob Rogers