Dundalk 2 Sligo Rovers 2: AN UNBELIEVABLE night at Oriel Park saw Dundalk earn a famous draw against Sligo Rovers despite playing the final 23 minutes with just eight men.

Referee Tommy Connolly found himself public enemy number one after sending Kevin McKinley, Chris Turner and Thomas Heary off in the second half.

Heary’s sending off prompted Sean Connor to order his players off the pitch, but sanity prevailed and the Lilywhites battled on to secure a point that will be remembered for a long time in the area.

Sligo took a deserved lead in the 27th minute. Romauld Boco’s cross glanced off Thomas Heary’s head to find Rafael Cretaro at the back post and he made no mistake for his 20th goal of the season.

Dundalk hit back within five minutes when Michael McGowan cut in from the left to slide the ball past Ciaran Kelly, and they pulled in front in the 48th minute when Chris Turner lashed home from the penalty spot after Danny Ventre’s handball.

The fireworks went off in the 50th when they were reduced to 10 men after McKinley saw red for making contact with Cretaro’s face. Turner then followed nine minutes later. Connolly adjudged him to have blocked a ferocious, goalwards shot with his hand. Alan Keane stepped up to drill the resulting penalty home.

They were left to see out the game with eight men when Heary got his marching orders for a second yellow card.

DUNDALK: Cherrie; Shaun Kelly, Burns, Heary, Murphy (Mansaram, 71 mins); McGowan, Turner, Daly, McKinley; Williams (Coburn, 84 mins), Rowe.

SLIGO ROVERS: Kelly; Ventre (Marshall, 69 mins), Peers (Meenan, 77 mins), Keane, Kendrick; Boco, O'Grady (Turner, 86 mins), Ryan, Doyle; Cretaro, Blinkhorn.

Referee: Tom Connolly.