DUNDALK'S uphill battle to avoid a playoff to stay in the Premier Division continued at Oriel Park last night when they conceded a late equaliser to Sligo Rovers.

Although the equaliser was a scrambled affair with only about six minutes left to play, it was no more than Sligo deserved as they created the best scoring chances over the 90 minutes.

Dundalk looked to have secured the points when Joe Gallen put them in front in the 58th minute with a gale force wind at their backs.

Dundalk had done most of the early running in the game but Sligo began to get control coming up to half time with Johnny Kenny looking the best player on the pitch.

The visitors should have been in front about five minutes from halftime when a great shot from Padraig Moran came back off the underside of the Dundalk crossbar. And Moran should have scored again just after the interval when he fired another shot just wide.

Dundalk got the break when a cross into the box by Mick Doohan was headed down by Brian Byrne and Gallen scored from close in.

Two minutes later Dundalk almost made the game secure when a 30 yard shot by Jonathan Prizeman beat Alan O'Neill but again came back into play from the under side of the crossbar.

Sligo were not content to let Dundalk have the points and pressed continually for the last 15 minutes or so with Ian Gilzean, who had come on as a substitute, massing an open goal.

Sligo finally got their reward in the 83rd minute when a corner kick taken by Tony Kelly was forced over the line by Lee Thew.