Rovers leave it late in Finn Park to thrill fans
RHYS McCabe’s injury time winner sealed a crucial three points for Sligo Rovers as they claimed a huge victory over Finn Harps in Ballybofey on Saturday evening.
Former Galway man Vinny Faherty gave the visitors the lead in the first-half, but a stunning goal from Paddy McCourt levelled the scoreline with just eight minutes left on the clock.
Gerard Lyttle shuffled his pack and went all out to win the game in the last few minutes, with his risk paying off as Rhys McCabe struck in the 91st minute to give Rovers’ survival bid a huge boost.
The Bit O’Red had not played a league game since their victory over Cork City - four weeks ago.
That game was their first victory on the road all year - drawing five and losing seven of their previous 12 away games.
Coming into this game, they knew that nothing less than three points would be enough. Likewise, Finn Harps were also aiming for victory in this vital relegation six-pointer in order to pull themselves further away from the danger zone.
The hosts certainly had the better of the early possession, but failed to make the most of it.
It was Gerard Lyttle’s side who eventually took the lead - a goal that could prove vital in their battle to beat the drop.
Against the run of play, Gary Boylan burst forward and crossed for Faherty, who needed no invitation to tuck the ball into the back of the net past Ciaran Gallagher.
Harps went on the attack immediately when Paddy McCourt spotted the run of Eddie Dsane who could only flick it over his head, allowing Shaun Patton to avert the danger.
Rovers’ set pieces were causing a host of problems for the Donegal men, and Rhys McCabe caused hassle in the Harps area when his free-kick fell to Chris Kenny - the midfielder could not get a decent touch to it though.
The Bit O’Red had the best of the chances as the first-half drew to a close, when Kenny’s miss-hit shot came to Kearns on the left, who could not direct his shot goalwards.
It was nearly 2-0 to Lyttle’s men just before the interval, when Ethan Boyle hit his own post from a Regan Donelon corner - relief for Ollie Horgan’s men.
Rovers were forced to spend periods of the second half in their own half of the pitch with their backs to the wall, but to their credit they pulled through sustained pressure from the hosts.
Former Longford man Eddie Dsane sent a long range effort just wide of Patton’s post, before he forced a good save from the Letterkenny man in the Rovers goals.
Patton was again called into action to keep out a forceful Caolan McAleer drive before Harps finally found an opening.
Former Celtic man Paddy McCourt, who enjoyed a couple of mazy runs on the night, forced his way past a host of Rovers players before tucking the ball into the back of the net to break Rovers’ hearts with just eight minutes left on the clock.
But, not ones to accept a result like that, Rovers went on in search of a winner, although there were a few tired looking bodies in the last few minutes.
Faherty spotted the run of McCabe in the 91st minute, the Scottish man managed to hold off his marker and just slotted the ball around Gallagher and into the back of the net to send the Rovers fans wild.
That result brings Rovers up to eighth place in the league - one point off the relegation zone. Finn Harps sit third bottom while Galway United, Rovers’ opponents this weekend, sit second bottom.
Friday night’s game will be huge for both teams as the battle to beat the drop heats up.
Finn Harps: Ciaran Gallagher, Ethan Boyle, Ciaran Coll, Damien McNulty, Gareth Harkin (Jonny Bonner, 74), Caolan McAleer, Paddy McCourt, Tommy McBride (Danny Morrissey, 57), Mark Timlin, Sean Houston, Eddie Dsane (Ibrahim Keita, 85).
Sligo Rovers: Shaun Patton, Gary Boylan, Kyle Callan McFadden, Seamus Sharkey, Regan Donelon, Jamie McDonagh (Benny Igiehon, 74), Chris Kenny, Rhys McCabe, Daniel Kearns (Omar Haughton, 88), Greg Moorhouse (Jack Keaney, 46), Vinny Faherty.
Referee: Tomas Connolly