Abandoned Sligo Rovers-Finn Harps tie ruled a draw

Saturday’s 1-1 draw between Sligo Rovers and Finn Harps will stand as a result, despite the matching being abandoned after 86 minutes due to floodlight failure.

The SSE Airtricity League has ruled against a replay or continuation of the game and instead decided the points should be shared.

“As League director, I have decided to allot the points according to the goals scored at the time of the abandonment as per Rule 19.16 of the Participation Agreement. The final score of the game is Sligo Rovers 1 Finn Harps 1,” said the FAI’s director of competitions Fran Gavin.

That rule allows the League director the discretion to allot the points for any uncompleted fixture based on the score at the time of abandonment.

Gavin announced the decision following receipt of the Match Delegate’s report and the Report from referee Padraigh Sutton

Harps had equalised just three minutes before the lights failed, Damien McNulty volleying in to cancel out Chris Lyons’ early opener.

The league’s decision confirms Harps’ first away point of the season and it was home manager Dave Robertson who was most frustrated by the blackout.

“From our point of view it’s frustrating, we wanted to continue the game. There was four minutes left and two minutes of injury time so only six minutes but we can only control what happens on the pitch.

“I think we could have won it. There was belief in the players.”