Match Report: Sligo Rovers 1-1 Dundalk FC

Photo by Gerry Scully

Ronan Teahan's equaliser after 89 minutes salvaged a point for Dundalk away to already-relegated Sligo Rovers at The Showgrounds - a result that moved Ciarán Kilduff's side back into fifth place in the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division, and more significantly, means that Dundalk have secured their place in the top flight for the 2027 season.

However Kilduff's side left it late, with Teahan quickest to react following substitute Declan McDaid's interception in the Sligo penalty area, and the midfielder's shot from ten metres eventually trickled over the line after goalkeeper Liam Hughes had initially parried the ball. Earlier, Sligo had opened the scoring with the opening attack of the second period with Kaiyne Woolery's header going in off the underside of the crossbar from Seán Stewart's left-wing cross. Although Sligo's goal came against the run of play, Dundalk were really left to regret not taking advantage following a dominant opening half.

Kilduff made two changes to the team that had started in Dundalk's 2-1 defeat at home to Bohemians eight days previously with Tyreke Wilson and Cian Dillon coming in for Harvey Warren and Leo Gaxha who both dropped to the bench. Wilson came in at left-back with Bobby Burns switching to the right-back spot.

The visitors opened with seven corners in the opening 14 minutes, a clear signal of Kilduff's side's early intentions. But despite their early attacking stranglehold, the Whites were unable to create a clear scoring opportunity. Indeed, Dundalk's best scoring chance actually came from open play subsequent to that flurry of corners through a Cian Dillon shot from ten metres which was blocked by Hughes in the Sligo goal. The lone response from the home side in the opening half hour came from a free-kick from Luke Young after 19 minutes after Tyreke Wilson had been cautioned, but goalkeeper Enda Minogue was quick from his line to intercept the ball.

Both sides laboured to create any further genuine scoring chances before the interval - Dundalk also losing Mayowa Animasahun to injury - with the exception of a long-range effort from Keith Buckley that Hughes gathered at the second time of asking. But the visitors almost poached the opening goal on the stroke of half-time after Daryl Horgan's lofted cross from the left wing was poked goalwards by Bobby Burns only for Gareth McElroy to clear off the line. Dundalk had dominated with 17 scoring opportunities against Sligo's four during the opening 45 minutes - but the opening goal eluded Kilduff's charges.

Woolery made Dundalk pay, and the opening goal provided the home side with more confidence, with Minogue having to dive to deny the Sligo striker netting a second time as he diverted his low cross to safety after 52 minutes. Dundalk gradually regained their composure, and both Young and Stewart seeing yellow for challenges on Trevor Clarke and Bobby Burns, before Hughes dived to his left to deny substitute Egor Vassenin from Clarke's right-wing cross on the hour mark. Soon after, Ronan Teahan volleyed straight into the arms of Hughes from 12 metres.

Declan McDaid and Shane Tracey then replaced Clarke and Aodh Dervin, and the pattern of the game continued as Dundalk forced the issue - Horgan having a shot charged down before Teahan's effort was deflected into Hughes' arms.

Dillon and Buckley then exited to be replaced by Gaxha and Harry Groome after 73 minutes as Dundalk continued to press for an equaliser, Kilduff looking to switch the attacking approach with Gaxha playing on the left wing, Teahan moving up front, and Horgan slotting into the No10 role, but Dundalk's efforts on goal looked to have petered out until Teahan's late intervention - although Groome squandered a good chance to win the game right at the death.

Dundalk: Enda Minogue; Tyreke Wilson, Tom Grivosti, Mayowa Animasahun (Egor Vassenin 24), Bobby Burns; Keith Buckley (Harry Groome 73), Aodh Dervin (Shane Tracey 61), Ronan Teahan; Daryl Horgan, Cian Dillon (Leo Gaxha 73), Trevor Clarke (Declan McDaid 61). Subs not used: Luke Mulligan, Norman Garbutt, Samuel Safaei.