A 77th minute goal from James Mulligan was enough to secure Finn Harps their first victory of the season and lift the Donegal team off the bottom of the table.
Mulligan's goal came after a string of fine saves from Sligo keeper Matt Boswell and it seemed as if the home side had run out of luck.
They had taken the lead in the 41st minute when Jonathan Speak who earlier had shots cleared off the line, found the bottom corner of the Sligo net.
The visitors were back on level terms in the 49th minute when Brian McKenna let a shot from Steve Birks slide under his body to stun the home crowd.
Harps hit back with shots from Minnock, Mulligan and Kenny; but Boswell's saves kept Sligo in the game. Even after Mulligan's goal, Sligo almost nicked a draw; but sub Andrew McCann failed to steer the ball in from close range in the 90th minute.
Finn Harps: McKenna, Scanlan, Minnock, Boyle, Dykes, Huchinson, Kenny, McGrenaghan, Speak, Mulligan, Harkin. Sub: McMillan for Speak (81 mins).
SLIGO: Boswell, Rossiter, Lynch, McInally, Sheridan, Charles, Marshall, Birks, Shannon, O'Grady, Moran. Subs - Bonar for Lynch (57 mins); Ed Khallafi for Birks (73 mins); McCann for Marshall (82 mins).
Referee: J Stacey (Athlone).
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