Finn Harps 0 - 1 Sligo Rovers

• Aidan O'Donnell
• Sat, Aug 28 2010


There were no real surprises at Finn Park tonight as Sligo Rovers kept their dream of reaching two cup finals alive with a less than comprehensive win over Finn Harps in Ballybofey.

In what was, surprisingly, the first ever meeting between the northwest sides in the FAI Senior Cup, an eleventh minute spot-kick from Alan Keane was all that separated the sides.

Rovers, who reached the EA Sports Cup Final earlier this month, had Harps by the jugular for large spells of the first half but could never make their dominance count in front of goal.

It was a strange contrast in the second half, as Harps bossed most things in general play, but like their opponents, failed to test the opposition netminder.

Both sides had selection issues coming into the game with Harps missing lively winger Stephen McLaughlin because of suspension, while Chris Breen – who scored two goals in his last three appearances – once again had to settle for a place on the bench.

Meanwhile, Sligo travelled through the Barnesmore Gap without Joseph N'do (leg), Richard Brush (hand) and Mauro Almeida (Achilles), while Conor O'Grady missed out due to suspension. On the upside, Romauld Boco (achilles) and Gary McCabe (ankle) both came through late fitness tests to start for the Bit O’ Red.

Paul Cook’s side started much the better, enjoying the bulk of possession in a busy opening where Richie Ryan’s twenty-yard strike beat Gavin Cullen in the Harps goals but not the base of his left hand post, as Harps narrowly escaped.

The pressure continued to build on the Harps backline which eventually succumbed in the eleventh minute when skipper Packie Mailey impeded Matthew Blinkhorn just inside the area, giving referee Derek Tomney little choice but to point to the spot. Full-back Alan Keane took responsibility and coolly slotted into the bottom left-corner, sending Gavin Cullen the wrong way and his side into a deserved early lead.

Despite their dominance, Rovers were unable to extend their lead going in at half-time, though Harps offered little in the way of danger at the other end. The home side were unable to manufacture a single shot on target as the first half petered out rather tamely.

It was something of a turnaround after the restart with Harps seemingly reinvigorated and pouring more bodies forward, while Sligo appeared fairly content to sit back on their slender lead.

Kevin McHugh had Harps’ first real chance of note for the hosts when he latched onto a long ball forward and with Kelly some way off his line, the striker tried a dipping volley that fell just beyond the crossbar.

The effort seemed to awake the home support, though it also sparked their opposition back into life.

Blinkhorn brought the best out of Cullen with a glancing header while Boco headed narrowly off target from the resulting corner.

At the other end, Harps had a big appeal for a penalty of their own waved away. Kevin McHugh barged his way into the Sligo box and after he went to ground under the challenge of Ryan, the home support held their breath only for the referee to offer little notion in the way off levelling things up.

The sides continued to battle away tooth and nail, but no further goalmouth chances came about, while the hosts were left worried by a shoulder injury picked up by replacement Chris Breen, who had only been on the pitch thirteen minutes.

Finn Harps: Gavin Cullen; James Doherty, Packie Mailey, Matthew Crossan, Gary Whoriskey; Mark Forker, Tony Shields, Tommy Bonner, Marc Brolly; Kevin McHugh, Oisin McMenamin. Subs: Chris Breen (Whoriskey, 77 mins), Davitt Walsh (Breen, 90 mins).

Sligo Rovers: Ciaran Kelly; Alan Keane, Gavin Peers, Jim Lauchlan, Iarlfaith Davoren; John Dillon, Gary McCabe, Richie Ryan, John Russell; Romauld Boco, Matthew Blinkhorn. Subs: Danny Ventre (McCabe), Eoin Doyle (Dillon, both 61 mins), Padraig Almond (Blinkhorn, 77 mins).

Referee: Derek Tomney (Dublin).
Extratime man of the match: Richie Ryan (Sligo).