Six crazy second-half minutes saw Sligo Rovers come from behind to leave Dundalk staring relegation from the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division in the face as Jon Daly’s men suffered a heartbreaking 2-1 loss at The Showgrounds on Saturday night.
Dundalk had dominated much of the first period and deservedly led at the break through Robbie Benson’s controversial 24th-minute penalty, although Sligo did hit the post late in the half through Simon Power.
It looked like it might be the Lilywhites’ night when Scot Ross Munro produced a wonderful double save to deny Ollie Denham and Will Fitzgerald. But, after Jad Hakiki went close to making it 2-0, the game completely turned in the 69th minute.
Dundalk players celebrate their sides first goal scored by Robbie Benson, hidden, during the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division match between Sligo Rovers and Dundalk at The Showgrounds in Sligo. Photo by Tom Beary/Sportsfile.
Dundalk failed to fully clear a free-kick and Wilson Waweru nodded in the equaliser. Shortly after, substitute Luke Pearce raced in behind the Dundalk defence but was taken down by Hayden Cann who was sent off, with Ellis Chapman’s spot-kick squeezing past Munro.
A man down, Daly’s side did go to the final whistle in attempt to salvage an unlikely point, and they thought they had it in the 92nd minute when Robbie Mahon’s corner from the left found fellow substitute Norman Garbett whose header was somehow clawed out by Ed McGinty.
Dundalk were in disbelief that the ball did not cross the line, and they were unable to find another in the remaining minutes of injury-time as they sunk to a fourth straight one-goal defeat which leaves them four points adrift of Drogheda United, who have a game in hand, at the bottom of the table.
Robbie Benson of Dundalk in action against Simon Power of Sligo Rovers during the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division match between Sligo Rovers and Dundalk at The Showgrounds in Sligo. Photo by Tom Beary/Sportsfile.
For the game, Daly made one change to the team that lost in Waterford eight days earlier as Hakiki returned to the starting XI in place of Scott McGill, who was not in the matchday squad. Felix Goddard, Paul Doyle, Bobby Faulkner and Garbett were on the bench.
Dundalk, backed by a vociferous travelling support, started well and had a sight of goal in just the third minute when Eoin Kenny picked out Hakiki in the box but his strike was deflected behind off Sligo captain Niall Morahan, with the corner coming to nothing.
On six minutes, Benson broke through the middle and slid in Ryan O’Kane on the left of the box with the local winger’s low cross cleared into the path of Daryl Horgan who struck over the crossbar.
Dundalk players celebrate their side’s first goal scored by Robbie Benson, centre, during the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division match between Sligo Rovers and Dundalk at The Showgrounds in Sligo. Photo by Tom Beary/Sportsfile.
Sligo threatened for the first time soon after when Will Fitzgerald’s left-footed strike flashed inches past the post, with Waweru just unable to get a touch at the back stick. Dundalk, though, remained on top and continually used Dan Pike’s long throw to cause the home defence problems.
On 23 minutes, Dundalk were awarded a penalty in bizarre circumstances as ex-Lilywhite Connor Malley appeared to control the ball with his chest but the referee saw a handball and pointed to the spot. Benson stood up and, just about, snuck the ball past McGinty.
European-chasing Sligo – looking for a seventh straight home league win – were visibly rocked by that setback and had to withstand a period of pressure after the half-hour as Dundalk forced a number of corners.
Jad Hakiki of Dundalk in action against Reece Hutchinson of Sligo Rovers during the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division match between Sligo Rovers and Dundalk at The Showgrounds in Sligo. Photo by Tom Beary/Sportsfile.
A strong press from Dundalk then drew Sligo into a mistake at the back but the visitors could not add a second. And then the home side almost equalised in the 38th minute when Power’s strike from distance came back off the post.
Three minutes before half-time, Sligo left-back Reece Hutchinson got in on the left of the area and let fly but Munro got behind it well. At the other end, Horgan’s shot was pushed wide by McGinty as Dundalk took a slender lead into half-time.
With no changes on either side at the break, Dundalk started the second half positively, although Sligo were the first to threaten, on 50 minutes, when Power made a superb direct run from the right flank into the box but his shot was blocked by Cann.
Dundalk goalkeeper Ross Munro during the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division match between Sligo Rovers and Dundalk at The Showgrounds in Sligo. Photo by Tom Beary/Sportsfile.
Shortly after, Fitzgerald delivered from the left onto the head of Power in the centre but he could not keep his effort down as it flew over. Then Munro produced an unbelievable double save as he first denied Denham and then recovered instantly to get a strong hand on Fitzgerald’s powerful follow-up.
Before the hour, there was a break in play for treatment to Benson for an apparent shoulder injury. On 67 minutes, Hakiki went on a run from the halfway line and unleashed a shot from distance that whistled past the top corner.
Then, Sligo levelled on 69 minutes. A free-kick from the left was initially cleared but Sligo regained possession and Power got to the by-line before standing up a cross for Waweru who headed the ball over Munro.
Luke Pearse of Sligo Rovers is fouled by Hayden Cann of Dundalk resulting in a penalty during the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division match between Sligo Rovers and Dundalk at The Showgrounds in Sligo. Photo by Tom Beary/Sportsfile.
The match completely swung in Sligo’s favour with a quarter-of-an-hour remaining. A ball over the top was latched onto by Pearce who raced into the box where he was taken down by Cann who, as last man, was shown a red card. Munro got a slight touch to Chapman’s penalty but could not keep it out.
Dundalk went to the end, with Garbett and Mahon thrown on. It was Sligo, with the extra man, who looked the more likely to score again. However, Dundalk thought they made it 2-2 in the 92nd minute only for McGinty to somehow save from Garbett, whose header looked like it was certain to hit the net.
Jamie Gullan then looked like he might be in but the Sligo defence did enough to put him off, as the Bit O’Red held on to jump to fourth. The defeat for Dundalk is a costly one, now four points behind Drogheda, who play their game in hand at home to Galway United on Monday night.
Bobby Faulkner of Dundalk following his sides defeat in the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division match between Sligo Rovers and Dundalk at The Showgrounds in Sligo. Photo by Tom Beary/Sportsfile.
SLIGO ROVERS: Ed McGinty, JR Wilson, Ollie Denham, Gareth McElroy, Reece Hutchinson, Niall Morahan, Connor Malley (Luke Pearce 62), Simon Power, Ellis Chapman, Will Fitzgerald, Wilson Waweru (Kailin Barlow 75). Subs not used: Richard Brush (GK), Charlie Wiggett, David Jonathan, Kyle McDonagh, Owen Elding, Daire Patton, Colin Mooney.
DUNDALK FC: Ross Munro, Dan Pike, Andy Boyle, Hayden Cann, John Mountney, Aodh Dervin, Robbie Benson (Norman Garbett 84), Daryl Horgan (Robbie Mahon 84), Jad Hakiki (Dara Keane 71), Ryan O’Kane (Bobby Faulkner 77), Eoin Kenny (Jamie Gullan 71). Subs not used: Felix Goddard (GK), Koen Oostenbrink, Paul Doyle, Seán Keogh.
REFEREE: Marc Lynch.
