Sligo Rovers 0

Finn Harps 0

RAFFAELE CRETARO MISSED a 90th-minute penalty as Finn Harps held on to draw 0-0 at The Showgrounds against Sligo Rovers.

In a dull affair in Sligo, neither side really looked like coming out of this on top.

Finn Harps came into this game on the back of nine consecutive defeats, a run of form that would need to be terminated should they look to move one step closer to securing survival.

Sligo Rovers made three changes from the side that drew 0-0 with St Patrick’s Athletic last week. Without the suspended Michael Leahy and injured Gavin Peers, Dave Robertson was forced into two changes, while Kieran Sadlier dropped to the bench. John Russell, Raffaele Cretaro and Daniel Kearns all took their places in the starting eleven,

Ollie Horgan made five changes to the side that was defeated by Galway United last week. Richard Brush, Barry Molloy, Michael Funston, Packie Mailey and Adam Hanlon came into the side in place of Ciaran Gallagher, Tony McNamee, Tommy McMonagle, BJ Banda and the suspended Ciaran Coll.

Sligo Rovers would require a victory to keep their fifth position safe, although their record against Finn Harps this season left a lot to be desired (one defeat and one draw).

In an even first-half, there were few clear cut chances, although the Bit O’Red did come closest to taking the lead when Achille Campion was just inches from bundling the ball over the line from a Daniel Kearns cross, with a good reaction save from former Rovers ‘keeper Richard Brush clearing the danger.

Ruairi Keating had Harps’ first chance of the game when he was played in by Sean Houston, and in acres of space he sent his effort well over the bar.

Gareth Harkin’s free-kick was later punched away by goalkeeper Ciaran Nugent, despite there being no immediate danger, and luckily for the Bit o’Red the lineman’s flag had been raised.

Finn Harps started the second-half brightly, and had the Rovers defence under immense pressure from the off, and within the first minute the visitors were denied three times by the resilient defence of the Bit O’Red.

A goal-line clearance by Tobi Adebayo-Rowling was made safe by a wonderful Nugent save from a Packie Mailey shot, before the American pulled off another stunning save to deny Harps taking the lead, with Liam Martin’s goal-line clearance seconds later keeping Sean Houston out.

Harps continued to search for the winner, and Ryan Curran almost found just that when he latched on a Hanlon cross, but his effort was just inches wide.

Rovers were handed a lifeline in the dying seconds as referee Derek Tomney pointed to the spot as Craig Roddan was taken down in the box by Ethan Boyle, although it looked cruel.

Cretaro, who one would expect to hit the back of the net, blasted well over the bar, to end Harps’ losing streak of nine consecutive games, giving them a lifeline as they head into the last remaining games.

Sligo Rovers: Ciaran Nugent, Tobi Adebayo-Rowling, Pat McCann, Gary Boylan, Jimmy Keohane, Daniel Kearns (Kieran Sadlier, 66), Craig Roddan, John Russell, Liam Martin, Achille Campion, Raffaele Cretaro.

Subs not used: Regan Donelon, Phil Roberts, Paul Doyle, Mark Hannon, Mikey Place, Jason Hunt.

Finn Harps: Richard Brush, Damien McNulty, Keith Cowan, Packie Mailey, Ethan Boyle, Barry Moloy, Gareth Harkin, Michael Funston, Sean Houston, Adam Hanlon (Tony McNamee, 72), Ruairi Keating (Ryan Curran, 25).

Subs not used: Ciaran Gallagher, Tommy McMonagle, Mark Coyle, BJ Banda.

Referee: Derek Tomney

Man of the match: Sean Houston – Created a lot for Harps on the night, and although it came to nothing, he left everything out on the field.

Where to next? Roddy Collins parts ways with Waterford United

‘Please God he’d like to come on board. I think we would be good for him too’ – Keane