Derry break Harps' hearts with 93rd-minute winner

James Akintunde completed a dramatic Derry City turnaround as they condemned struggling Finn Harps to a painful 2-1 defeat in Ballybofey.

In a contest of three headed goals, it was Akintunde who sorted out where the points would be going as Derry went back to second place in the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division.

At the bottom, UCD's win at Sligo Rovers means they’re level on points now with Harps, who for long spells this evening looked as though they might hang on for only their third victory of the campaign.

Two new signings had scored the first two goals, with Robert Jones giving Harps a 31st-minute lead and Derry drawing level through Ryan Graydon - who was introduced on the hour - ten minutes from time.

Glaswegian Jones - making his first appearance at Finn Park - opened the scoring with a fine header past Brian Maher from a Regan Donelon’s corner.

Goalkeeper Mark Anthony McGinley, recalled in place of Gavin Mulreany in the Harps goal, wasn’t overly tested in the first half, although Matty Smith and Will Patching weren’t far off target.

After half-time though, Derry pounded the Town End goal, with a Cameron McJannett header flying just over the crossbar and the impressive Patrick McEleney, on 74 minutes, drawing a fine stop from McGinley, with Derry’s first effort on target.

Six minutes later, Ruaidhri Higgins’ team finally got on level terms with a simple goal that Harps should’ve dealt with better. Former Bohemians winger Graydon chased a long ball from Dummigan, got in behind Ethan Boyle to head a trickler past the advancing McGinley.

With seven minutes signalled by fourth official John McLoughlin, Derry continued the siege and Akintunde rose highest to head the winner from a Patching in-swinging free.

Finn Harps: M