Finn Harps 1 Derry City 2
Table toppers Derry City notched up a sixth win in a row as they restored their six point lead at the summit with victory in the big north-west derby in Ballybofey.
A first half Cameron McJannet goal paved the way for City who were never in any real danger of losing to their neighbours.
They got their second goal through a Will Patching free-kick on 87 minutes before Harps pulled one back with a Filip Mihaljevic penalty on 90 minutes.
Admittedly it set up an exciting stoppage time finish as Harps got a late corner, but in truth City were good value for their success.
After a few chances at both ends, City took the lead in the 22nd minute with McJannet rising above the Harps defence to head home a Brandon Kavanagh corner.
Daniel Lafferty could have extended the Candystripes’ lead on 40 minutes when he met a Kavanagh corner at the back post but could only put the ball wide from close range.
The league leaders began the second half on a positive note with former Harps man Shane McEleney seeing a header flash across the face of goal following a Kavanagh free-kick.
Matty Smith then had a couple of shots saved as City continued to have the better of things although Dave Webster saw a header clip the crossbar at the other end.
Former City favourite Barry McNamee had a chance on 84 minutes for Harps but his well drilled shot was blocked in a crowded goalmouth.
Try as they did, Harps were unable to stop City’s march and Patching struck with his fifth goal of the season to make it 2-0 with three minutes remaining. Webster picked up a yellow card for a foul on substitute James Akintunde and from the resulting free Patching did the business.
Substitute Mahaljevic pulled one back for Harps from the penalty spot after he was taken down by substitute Ciaran Coll but it was too little, too late for a Harps side that is still searching for a first win of the season.
Finn Harps: McGinley; Boyle, Tourist, Webster, Slevin; Hery (Mihaljevic 56 mins), N'Zeyi, McNamee, Rainey; McWoods (Tinlin 79 mins), Mahdy (Rudden 67 mins).
Derry City: Maher; Boyce, McEleney, Toal, McJannet; Dummigan, Kavanagh (Thomson 76 mins), Patching, Lafferty (McLaughlin 89 mins); Smith (Coll 89 mins), McGonigle (Akintunde 75 mins).
Referee: J McLoughlin.
Sligo 2 UCD 2
UCD came close to their first win of the season but were denied by Sligo Rovers striker Max Mata, whose second goal made it 2-2 at The Showgrounds.
Mata’s first-half goal put the hosts ahead but second-half goals from Colm Whelan - who scored spectacularly - and Evan Caffrey had them on the verge of a precious win.
Sligo, without injured top scorer Aidan Keenan, made just one change to the team that started the previous Tuesday’s home loss to Bohemians, with Jordan Hamilton coming into the attack.
UCD boss Andy Myler brought back Caffrey, Dylan Duffy, Alex Dunne and Donal Higgins to the starting XI.
There was local interest in two UCD players in particular, team captain Jack Keaney and Liam Kerrigan, both formerly of Rovers.
UCD were looking for their first win of the season and Sligo were hoping for a win that would move them up to third in the standings.
UCD goalkeeper Lorcan Healy made a fine save from a strong shot by Hamilton in the 10th minute to keep the visitors from falling behind. Mata then set up Hamilton for a headed chance but Sligo were struggling to break down a resolute and well-organised UCD.
The breakthrough for Sligo came in the 22nd minute when Mata headed home at the near post from Karl O’Sullivan’s corner. This was Mata’s first goal for Sligo.
Dunne blocked an effort from the busy Adam McDonnell, with the Sligo midfielder’s shot on target. UCD went close to levelling matters three minutes before the break when Duffy’s powerful attempt looked destined for the net only for Sligo custodian Ed McGinty’s save.
McGinty was helpless for UCD’s equaliser - Whelan’s thunderbolt in the 57th minute after Kerrigan’s pass set up last season’s top scorer.
Lewis Banks went close to restoring Sligo’s advantage before UCD wingers Duffy and Kerrigan threatened to put the improving visitors in front.
UCD took the lead after 77 minutes when Caffrey smoothly found the net from Duffy’s pass.
Mata’s second goal of the night - a deft header from Greg Bolger’s free-kick launched upfield - brought Sligo level six minutes later.
Sligo increased the pressure in the closing stages with opportunities for David Cawley and Will Fitzgerald and, at the other end, Whelan almost scored his second but was thwarted by McGinty.
Caffrey fired a shot over deep into stoppage time.
Sligo Rovers: McGinty; Banks, Pijnaker, Buckley, McCourt (Kirk 46 mins); Bolger, McDonnell (Cawley 86 mins); O'Sullivan, Hamilton (Keogh 74 mins), Fitzgerald; Mata.
UCD: Healy; Gallagher, Todd, Dunne, Osam; Kerrigan (Lennon 91 mins), Higgins (Brennan 73 mins), Keaney, Duffy (Nolan 86 mins); Caffrey, Whelan.
Referee: Derek Tomney.
