Sligo’s title hopes suffer as in-form Drogs earn draw

Drogheda United 1 Sligo Rovers 1

A second-half David Cawley strike earned the Bit O’Red a point, but Drogheda had the better chances in the game and could easily have notched a fourth consecutive league win.

News of an early goal for St Pat’s in Derry increased the urgency for Sligo and they pressed for an early breakthrough, with Joseph Ndo twice going close and Daniel North foiled by a last-gasp Alan McNally challenge.

For their part, Drogheda looked sharp in attack but were unable to test former United Park favourite Gary Rogers. All that changed after 29 minutes, however. Shane Grimes attacked down the right and exchanged passes with Ryan Brennan before squaring for Paul O’Conor who buried a shot past Rogers.

The Bit O’Red made a storming start to the second period as Raffaele Cretaro (twice) and Gavin Peers went close and on 50 minutes they were level, David Cawley’s deft touch from a North cross carrying the ball in off the post.

DROGHEDA UTD: Schlingermann; Grimes, McNally, Prendergast, Hand; Byrne; Cassidy, O’Conor, R Brennan, G Brennan; O’Brien.

SLIGO ROVERS: Rogers; Keane, Peers, Henderson, Greene; Conneely, Cawley, Ndo; Djilali, North, Cretaro. Subs: D McMillan for Conneely (70), Elding for Cretaro (86).

Referee: Pádraig Sutton (Clare).