FINN HARPS are back to winning ways after swatting in-form Sligo Rovers aside in Ballybofey.
Shaun Houston netted twice either end of a Ryan Curran goal as Ollie Horgan’s team won for the first time in 10 games.
Houston scored his second goal since rejoining the club when he got free following a ball down the channel from Gareth Harkin.
Houston seemed to have the freedom of the Twin Towns as he had time to steady himself and having taken a settling touch passed the ball past Micheál Slingermann in the Sligo goal on 17 minutes.
The last time the sides met in March, the points were shared in rather bizarre circumstances when the match was abandoned on 88 minutes due to floodlight failure. The 1-1 score at the time was eventually confirmed as a result.
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But in glorious Ballybofey sunshine, Sligo, who had won six from seven going into the derby, saw Jimmy Keohane draw a save from former Rovers ‘keeper Richard Brush on 20 minutes. The Harps goalkeeper saved from the same player late in the half.
Harps, without a win in seven and with five at the back, had something to hold onto as the pace of the game seldom dropped. Keith Cowan headed over on 32 minutes when Dave Scully.
The Ballybofey side went in 1-0 up at the break and it took only four second-half minutes for Curran to net for the sixth time this season.
Ciaran Coll and Dave Scully did the spadework down the left, but it was Curran who slammed high past Schlingermann.
With 18 minutes remaining, Houston twisted the knife, slotting home after Schlingermann came for, but didn’t hold a Ciaran Coll free kick.
Late in the day, Keith Cowan did well to block from Keohane, who rounded Brush, preserving a sixth clean sheet of the season and send Harps into the break on their most positive tune of the campaign.
Finn Harps: Richard Brush; Ethan Boyle, Keith Cowan, Packie Mailey, Thomas McMonagle, Ciaran Coll; Adam Hanlon (Michael Funston 88), Gareth Harkin (Josh Mailey 82), Shaun Houston, Ryan Curran; Dave Scully.
Sligo Rovers: Micheál Schlingermann; Tobi-Adebayo-Rowling, Mick Leahy, Gary Boylan, Regan Donelon; Kieran Sadlier (Jaania Gordon 86), Craig Roddan, John Russell (Jordan Richards 65), Jimmy Keohane; Liam Martin; Raffaele Cretaro (Phillip Roberts 86).
Referee: Rob Harvey
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Finn Harps end 10-game winless run in style against Sligo
Finn Harps 3
Sligo Rovers 0
FINN HARPS are back to winning ways after swatting in-form Sligo Rovers aside in Ballybofey.
Shaun Houston netted twice either end of a Ryan Curran goal as Ollie Horgan’s team won for the first time in 10 games.
Houston scored his second goal since rejoining the club when he got free following a ball down the channel from Gareth Harkin.
Houston seemed to have the freedom of the Twin Towns as he had time to steady himself and having taken a settling touch passed the ball past Micheál Slingermann in the Sligo goal on 17 minutes.
The last time the sides met in March, the points were shared in rather bizarre circumstances when the match was abandoned on 88 minutes due to floodlight failure. The 1-1 score at the time was eventually confirmed as a result.
Pace
But in glorious Ballybofey sunshine, Sligo, who had won six from seven going into the derby, saw Jimmy Keohane draw a save from former Rovers ‘keeper Richard Brush on 20 minutes. The Harps goalkeeper saved from the same player late in the half.
Harps, without a win in seven and with five at the back, had something to hold onto as the pace of the game seldom dropped. Keith Cowan headed over on 32 minutes when Dave Scully.
The Ballybofey side went in 1-0 up at the break and it took only four second-half minutes for Curran to net for the sixth time this season.
Ciaran Coll and Dave Scully did the spadework down the left, but it was Curran who slammed high past Schlingermann.
With 18 minutes remaining, Houston twisted the knife, slotting home after Schlingermann came for, but didn’t hold a Ciaran Coll free kick.
Late in the day, Keith Cowan did well to block from Keohane, who rounded Brush, preserving a sixth clean sheet of the season and send Harps into the break on their most positive tune of the campaign.
Finn Harps: Richard Brush; Ethan Boyle, Keith Cowan, Packie Mailey, Thomas McMonagle, Ciaran Coll; Adam Hanlon (Michael Funston 88), Gareth Harkin (Josh Mailey 82), Shaun Houston, Ryan Curran; Dave Scully.
Sligo Rovers: Micheál Schlingermann; Tobi-Adebayo-Rowling, Mick Leahy, Gary Boylan, Regan Donelon; Kieran Sadlier (Jaania Gordon 86), Craig Roddan, John Russell (Jordan Richards 65), Jimmy Keohane; Liam Martin; Raffaele Cretaro (Phillip Roberts 86).
Referee: Rob Harvey
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