Aidan Keena bags brace as Sligo Rovers outclass Finn Harps

John Russell got his spell as permanent Sligo Rovers manager under way in ideal fashion as his Bit O'Red side saw off Finn Harps with ease at the Showgrounds.

Aidan Keena and Karl O’Sullivan struck inside the opening seven minutes of this tie, while Keena completed the rout five minutes from time when he headed home Will Fitzgerald’s cross.

The win sees Sligo return to fifth spot, two points ahead of Bohemians with an extra game played.

Without the suspended Greg Bolger and Adam McDonnell, Sligo made three changes from their under-par performance against UCD three weeks ago, Lewis Banks, David Cawley and Max Mata returning to the side.

Harps boss Ollie Horgan made two changes from their pre-break draw with Derry City, giving starts to Barry McNamee and Yoyo Mahdy, while also including new signing Dylan Duncan, last with QPR, in his match-day squad.

Sligo came out on top in both these sides’ previous meetings this year and things looked good early on for the hosts as they raced into an early two-goal lead.

Keena, who netted a hat-trick in the first meeting of the season between the sides, had Rovers ahead with just three minutes played.

O’Sullivan’s initial cross was repelled by the Harps defence, only for the ball to fall to Keena, who fired an effort from the edge of the area past a number of defenders, including a man on the line, who could do little about keeping the ball in play.

Thing got worse for a Harps outfit in search of just their third win this term when they fell further behind four minutes later.

The Donegal side failed to deal with what seemed a fairly innocuous ball over the top from former player Shane Blaney, allowing O’Sullivan to beat goalkeeper Mark McGinley to the ball, before tapping home from close range.

D