Report: Sligo Rovers 4 - 1 Finn Harps

A side stripped bare. Sligo Rovers tonight have just 14 players on their books at the minute, and with Coleman and O’Grady unavailable for tonight’s encounter with Finn Harps, Paul Cook had to call up 4 players from the A-Team. Christopher Kelly, Jason Noctor, Ciarán Greene, and Mikey Creane were all looking to make the step up to Premier League football this evening.

Finn Harps made just one change from their last appearance, Chris Breen replacing the injured Davy Byrne, and otherwise the side remained unchanged. Manager Paul Hegarty sticking by and large with the side that lost to Alan Matthew’s Cork side last week in Finn Park.

Rovers raced into an early lead in the 7th minute when Gavin Peers converted a Seán Doherty corner. The ball was swung into the six yard box and passing everyone but Peers in the box. Peers nodded the ball past the wrongfooted James Gallagher in the Finn Harps goal.

Finn Harps missed a golden opportunity to equalize on the 17th minute when Seán Holmes struck a 30-yard free that was parried by Richard Brush. Shaun McGowan was first to the ball but he missed when it would have been easier to score. The ball was headed over and further disappointment ensued for Finn Harps when they went two down in the following moments.

Left-back Chris Butler looped a long throw into the area from the left hand side, Matt Judge went for it but he was pulled down and the ball broke kindly to midfielder Gary Curran, who with his left foot dispatched the ball low to Gallagher’s right.

Sligo created another fantastic attacking move soon after when a fast counter attacking move penetrated the Harps defence. Butler worked the ball to Doherty who ran to the endline and crossed the ball to the onrushing Gary Curran who struck the ball onto the post, leaving the crowd with their hearts in their mouths.

Stephen Parkhouse suffered the wrath of referee Neil Doyle when he received two yellow cards in the space of seconds with only seconds remaining in the first half. The first was an arguably harsh decision, as he fouled Gary Curran in the Rovers half. Outraged with Doyle’s judgement, Parkhouse slammed the ball off the ground, and Doyle instantly whipped out the red to send Parkhouse off the field.

Sligo continued to exert their dominance on the game and on the fifty-third minute, Rommy Boco got the goal that he literally has chased for in the last three games. Good work from youngster Mikey Creane led to the goal, as after he worked hard for the ball, he sidefooted it to Boco outside the area. Boco shot quickly and it took a wicked deflection past Gallagher in the Harp’s goal.

Unfortunately for Harps, the rout continued. Rafael Cretaro, the versatile Sligonian, got the fourth on the seventy fourth minute. He struck the ball with his left foot from outside the box. The ball squeezed past Gallagher on his near post, a fantastic goal for the hard working Tubbercurry native, and it was one he certainly deserved.

Harps got a consolation on the eighty ninth minute, Shaun McGowan converting Austin Friel’s cross to add a bit a respectability for the Donegal side.

Sligo Rovers: Richard Brush; Raffaele Cretaro (Jason Noctor 86), Gavin Peers, Mauro Almeida, Chris Butler; Gary Curran (Chris Kelly 75), Danny Ventre (c), Brian Cash, Sean Doherty; Romauld  Boco, Matthew Judge (Mikey Creane 27).
Subs not used: Pat Jennings, Greene.

Finn Harps: James Gallagher; Neil McCafferty, Shaun Holmes (c), Jonathan Minnock, Marc Mukendi; Michael Funston, Chris Breen (Austin Friel 63), Shaun McGowan, David Tyrell; Stephen Parkhouse, Conor Gethins (Kevin Ramsey 46).
Subs not used: Gavin Cullen, Gerry Gill, Marc Brolly.

Referee: Neil Doyle.

Attendance: 2,200 (estimate).