MATCH REPORT

Sligo Rovers 2, Dundalk FC 2

By Robert Cullen in the Showgrounds
Sligo Rovers sterling work in gaining a two-goal cushion against visitors Dundalk FC was undone by three minutes of madness late into the second half as the opposition scored twice to level things in this Airtricity League tie played in squally rain and heavy underfoot conditions.
Gary McCabe earned a place in the starting 11 thanks to his goal last Friday against Drogheda and the winger with the sweet strike was in form again tonight, scoring the opener for Sligo and setting up the second.
The frantic opening 25 minutes saw half-chances falling for both sides. Padraig Amond came closest for Sligo early on, when a fortunate bounce fell into his path, but he failed to beat goalkeeper Peter Cherrie from close range.
At the other end, Stephen Maher was adjudged to have fouled Richard Brush when going for a loose ball inside the penalty area. Fortunately for Brush, as the ball had broken free of his hold in the challenge.
Conor O’Grady was the first of a number of names to go into referee Noel Doyle’s notebook, for his foul on Maher, which although not malicious, was late.
Sligo showed ominous signs of breaking through in the 20th minute when a move started by striker Matthew Blinkhorn eventually fell back to his feet, but he blazed just over the crossbar.
But Dundalk had their chances too and Sligo hearts were in mouths when Ross Gaynor’s inviting pass flashed across the Sligo goalmouth, but there was no Lillywhite there to meet it.
The opener, when it did come, was straight out of the top drawer. Gary McCabe picked up the ball after it pinged around in front of the Dundalk goal. Spotting Cherrie off his line, the winger unleashed a left-foot strike which curled just over the netminder’s reach and in to the top corner of the net.
The goal sparked Sligo into life and they put Dundalk under the kosh for most of the remainder of the first half, but the visitors defended resolutely and Sligo were restricted to speculative efforts from outside the area.
After the break injured striker Neale Fenn made way for Johnny Breen in the Dundalk attack, but it was Sligo who again looked strong.
Danny Ventre presented Dundalk with a scoring chance for his cynical foul on one-time Showgrounds favourite Fahrudin Kudozovic, but the self-same winger sent the free kick just over the crossbar.
A double substitution for Sligo, with Mark Doninger and Dean Marshall, replacing Padraig Amond and Eoin Doyle, reflected the fact Sligo had played two games in four days, but it did Sligo few favours.
However, before things got worse for Sligo, they first got a whole lot better. In the 69th minute Gary McCabe’s corner kick on the left curled over the Dundalk defence to the far post where Doninger and Almeida was waiting, the latter heading it into the net for Sligo’s second.
Two up and in control, Sligo looked for a third to kill off the game, and nearly got it when Mark Doninger’s cross into the penalty box was cleared only as far as skipper Conor O’Grady, whose strike screamed just inches wide of the upright.
But then the tide turned most decisively. Kudozovic sent striker Ross Gaynor free and he rounded two Sligo defenders to slide the ball under Richard Brush.
A goal to the good, Dundalk sensed the momentum turn and within two minutes they were on level terms. This time a sloppily conceded corner allowed Kudozovic to send the ball into the Sligo six-yard box and substitute Ciaran McGuigan rose unopposed to head the ball beyond Brush at the far post.
The Showgrounds were stunned into silence and Dundalk looked hungry for all three points, chasing down every Sligo pass. When an innocuous backpass came to Brush, the Showgrounds faithful held their breath for an agonising moment as the goalkeeper’s strike rebounded off Breen and beyond Brush’s reach. The netminder’s blushes were saved when the ball bounced off the upright and he smothered the rebound.
Sligo could have won it themselves with five minutes of normal time remaining. Richie Ryan picked up the ball in the centre of the park and struck a stinging drive which Cherrie could only parry into Blinkhorn’s path.
The striker, who has yet to get on the score-sheet this season, failed to beat the Dundalk ‘keeper and the deflected strike was eventually scrambled to safety by the visitors.
There was just time for Dundalk to be denied by the woodwork once more, in the second minute of injury time when Kudozovic’s corner to the near post was chipped by Breen and deflected by a Sligo boot onto the crossbar. The resulting corner was cleared and shortly afterwards Doyle brought this thrilling game to a conclusion. Final score, Sligo Rovers 2, Dundalk FC 2.

Sligo Rovers: Richard Brush, Danny Ventre, Alan Keane, Gavin Peers, Mauro Almeida, Conor O’Grady, Gary McCabe, Richie Ryan, Matthew Blinkhorn, Padraig Amond (Mark Doninger, 62), Eoin Doyle (Dean Marshall, 67). Subs not used: John Dillon, Derek Foran, Ciaran Kelly.