Second half goals from Wilson Waweru and Ellis Chapman turned this game on its head as Sligo Rovers beat Dundalk at the Showgrounds.
Robbie Benson had given the Lilywhites the lead courtesy of a controversial first half penalty. But a battling Rovers fought back to record their seventh straight league win on home soil and were aided by a winderful last-gasp save from goalkeeper Ed McGinty.
The win sees the Bit O’Red move into fourth, level on points with Shamrock Rovers who occupy the final automatic European qualification spot.
Dundalk’s cause was further hampered in the second half by the dismissal of defender Hayden Cann 15 minutes from time.
The night was capped off by the news that the club had raised a record €130,300 in this year’s annual draw.
On the pitch and despite their recent off-the-field woes, it was Dundalk who enjoyed the better of the first half.
Rovers boss John Russell welcomed club captain Niall Morahan back to the starting eleven after the Leitrim man had missed last week’s defeat to Shamrock Rovers through suspension. Morahan Sligo’s only change from that defeat at Tallaght Stadium.
The visitors for their part also made the one switch, Jad Hakiki replacing Scott McGill who had started the recent loss to Waterford.
Despite their recent off-the-field woes, it was Dundalk who enjoyed the better of the first half.
Winger Daryl Horgan bent an effort over the Sligo crossbar from inside the area six minutes in, while Will Fitzgerald’s shot flashed past the far post at the opposite end three minutes later.
The visitors had the lead on 24 minutes in controversial circumstances when referee Marc Lynch ruled that the ball had hit Connor Malley’s arm. A decision which enraged the home bench who argued both that the ball had hit Malley’s shoulder and that the former Dundalk man was outside the box when the incident happened.
Unfazed by the surrounding fuss, Benson knocked his spot kick beyond McGinty, although the on-loan net minder did get a touch to the ball.
Rovers did manufacture chances in this period. Unmarked at the far post, Ollie Denham headed Simon Power’s set piece over Ross Munro’s crossbar on the half hour. While Power’s swerving drive from 35 yards out moved in the air before it smacked back off Munro’s post.
The lively Horgan twice threatened before the break. His effort clipped Gareth McElroy on its way past McGinty’s post while the Galway man pulled an excellent save from Sligo stopper late in the first half.
Chasing that seventh straight league win on home turf, Russell’s men almost leveled the game on 55 minutes only for a superb block from Munro who denied Fitzgerald from close range.
The hosts restored parity on 69 when despite facing away from goal, Waweru managed to head Power’s cross from the left beyond the scrambling Munro for his tenth goal of the year.
Waweru’s night was brought to a halt minutes later when he was stretchered off with what looked like an achilles injury but spiritis were lifted once more when Rovers hit the lead with 15 to go.
A jaded looking Cann pushed sub Luke Pearce to the floor as the Cardiff loanee ran through on goal. Referee Lynch showed little hesitation in awarding the penalty and sending the stricken Cann to the stands. Chapman was then on target from the resulting penalty for his ninth goal of the season.
Dundalk threw their lot at Rovers during the final moments. A world-class save from McGinty kept out a Robbie Mahon header from just yards out, while the same man kept out Jamie Gullan in the dying moments of those added minutes.
Sligo Rovers: Ed McGinty; JR Wilson, Gareth McElroy, Ollie Denham, Reece Hutchinson; Niall Morahan, Conor Malley (Luke Pearce 62); Will Fitzgerald, Ellis Chapman, Simon Power; Wilson Waweru (Kailin Barlow 74).
Dundalk: Ross Munro; Dan Pike, Andy Boyle, Hayden Cann, John Mountney; Aodh Dervin, Jad Hakikii (Dara Keane 71), Robbie Benson (Norman Garbett 84); Daryl Horgan (Robbie Mahon 84), Ryan O’Kane (Bobby Faulkner 77); Eoin Kenny (Jamie Gullan 71).
Referee: Marc Lynch.
Attendance: 2,754.
David Goulden