10-man Finn Harps rescued a point in the 93rd minute in the Premier Division against Sligo Rovers to draw 2-2 at a wet and windy Finn Park.
An early Kosovar Sadiki red card put Harps on the back foot and goals from Johnny Kenny and Niall Morahan put Sligo into control before a Sean Boyd header gave the game a dramatic ending.
A long ball to Ethan Boyle at the back post before the defender played in Karl O’Sullivan who levelled in the dying seconds.
Rovers started on the front foot as a cross to the back post fell to Walter Figueira who cut it back to Kenny, but his header from 6 yards was saved by Mark Anthony McGinley.
Disaster struck for Harps after just 4 minutes as Kosovar Sadiki went in for a tackle on Johnny Kenny and referee Damien McGraith sent the defender off for a stamp.
Harps responded well and after Barry McNamee capitalised on a Sligo mistake due to the conditions, he played in Tunde Owolabi who rounded keeper Ed McGinty but his shot was cleared on the line by Garry Buckley.
As the conditions worsened, mistakes were frequent and Lewis Banks and Niall Morahan were booked within 8 minutes of each other for late fouls.
Ollie Horgan’s men limited Sligo to very little chances until the half hour mark, when Sligo started to turn the screw.
Mark Coyle was put under pressure and a quick Sligo counter ended in a tame shot from Kenny and Adam McDonnell had a thunderous swerving shot from thirty yards saved well by McGinley.
Rovers saw success from diagonal balls to Figueira, who had moved to the left wing, against the out of position Will Seymore. Figueira’s first shot was saved brilliantly by McGinley but the second Figueira chance ended in a penalty as Coyle took down Kenny in the box.
Kenny stepped up and hit his penalty down the middle and despite diving to the left, McGinley saved well with his feet to keep Harps level at half-time.
Ryan Connolly in action for Finn Harps vs Sligo Rovers
Unfortunately for Harps, it didn’t stay level for long. Garry Buckley picked the ball up in defence and played a long ball over the top to Kenny who got the ball out from under his feet and slotted the ball low past McGinley to open the scoring.
It got even worse after 55 minutes as a Sligo corner wasn’t cleared properly and Ryan Connolly’s hooked clearance only landed to Niall Morahan. The Rovers player took a touch and smashed the ball low into the corner of the net from the edge of the box leaving McGinley with no chance.
Horgan made a triple substitution after the goal and Harps started pressing well and putting the Sligo defence under pressure.
Chances were few and far between after the second goal as the ten men couldn’t break down the Bit O’Red and any counter attacks from Liam Buckley’s side didn’t come to anything.
With 5 minutes left, Harps took their chance as a Mustoe corner was headed home by substitute Sean Boyd.
Harps piled on the pressure and in the 93rd minute, the pressure paid off. A long ball came to Ethan boyle at the back post and he looked up and played the ball to fellow substitute Karl O’Sullivan who turned and smashed the ball low into the far corner, sending Finn Park wild.
Harps tried to nick a winner but the referee blew for full-time.
Finn Harps: Mark Anthony McGinley; Jordan Mustoe, Kosovar Sadiki, David Webster(Foley, 85), Shane McEleney; Will Seymore (Boyle, 45), Ryan Connolly(O’Sullivan, 65), Mark Coyle, Barry McNamee (Hawkins, 65), Ryan Rainey; Tunde Owolabi(Boyd, 65)
Subs: Paddy McGarvey, Karl O’Sullivan, Sean Boyd, Mark Timlin, Luke Rudden, Dan Hawkins, Adam Foley, Stephen Doherty, Ethan Boyle
Sligo Rovers: Ed McGinty; Lewis Banks, Robbie McCourt, John Mahon, Garry Buckley; Niall Morahan, Ryan DeVries, Adam McDonnell, David Cawley, Walter Figueira(Lorenzen, 79); Johnny Kenny(Parkes, 79)
Subs: Richard Brush, Danny Kane, Seamus Keogh, Mark Byrne, Melvyn Lorenzen, Regan Donelan, Darren Collins, Romeo Parkes, Andre Wright
Referee: Damien McGraith
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