Late penalty drama at Oriel as Quigley thwarts Sligo

Dundalk 1 Sligo Rovers 1: THERE WAS late drama at Oriel Park yesterday as Mark Quigley’s injury-time penalty secured Dundalk…

Dundalk 1 Sligo Rovers 1:THERE WAS late drama at Oriel Park yesterday as Mark Quigley's injury-time penalty secured Dundalk a point against 10-man Sligo, who were just four minutes away from recording a crucial win.

Quigley struck in the 92nd minute after referee Tom Connolly had adjudged John Russell to have pulled the Dundalk player’s shirt just inside the 18-yard box.

That goal cancelled out Rafael Cretaro’s 88th-minute strike, which had looked to have been enough to lift Rovers three points clear at the top of the league.

Paul Cook’s men do return to the summit by virtue of goal difference but the reaction of the visitors’ bench at full time suggested this was scant reward for a gutsy display that saw them play out the final 37 minutes a man short.

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Sligo arrived at Oriel Park on the back of nine successive clean sheets in the league but had to plan without Alan Keane and Jason McGuinness.

With defences on top in the early stages, chances were few but on the half-hour mark, two openings fell to Marc Griffin in quick succession. The first was created by Stephen Maher, the midfielder slipping him through with a deft pass. Griffin showed good strength to hold off Gavin Peers but his effort lacked the power needed to trouble Brendan Clarke.

The second opportunity was of Griffin’s own making. The 20-year-old twisted his way past Derek Foran before cutting in and flashing a well-hit drive from 30-yards that flew just over.

Sligo lacked a cutting edge from open play in the final third. Set- pieces proved more fruitful with Joseph Ndo testing Peter Cherrie with a 30-yard free-kick which the goalkeeper dealt with easily.

The Scottish net-minder then produced a fine stop to deny Iarflaith Davoren’s pile-driver in the 38th minute, the left winger thumping a loose ball towards goal after Dundalk had only barely cleared Ndo’s free.

The Sligo full-back was in the thick of the action again six minutes later. This time he found himself in the Dundalk penalty area, going over the outstretched leg of Carl McHugh.

The Sligo players were up in arms looking for a penalty but referee Tom Connolly adjudged Ventre to have dived, and brandished a second yellow.

DUNDALK: Cherrie; Madden, Bennett, McHugh, Gaynor; Ward (Breen, 70 mins), Bolger, Maher, Kearns; Griffin (Byrne, 60 mins), Quigley.

SLIGO ROVERS: Clarke; Ventre, Peers, Foran, Powell (Greene 59); Dillon (Blinkhorn, 76 mins), Ryan, Ndo, Davoren (Cretaro, 79 mins); Russell, Doyle.

Referee: T Connolly (Dublin).