Substitute McDonnell scores equaliser for Dundalk

Dundalk 2 Waterford United 2

Substitute Stephen McDonnell hit a late equaliser for 10-man Dundalk to ensure this promotion/relegation play-off will go to the wire in Friday’s second leg at the RSC.

McDonnell latched onto a loose clearance to rifle a right-foot drive from outside the box to the bottom corner of the net on 76 minutes.

A bitter-sweet opening half for Dundalk saw them lose two key players before trooping off a goal up at the break.

Veteran defender Liam Burns hobbled off injured before Dundalk took the lead against the run of play on 22 minutes when Lorcan Shannon shot home Chris Reilly’s cross.

But Dundalk midfielder Stephen Maher did his side no favours when shown a straight red card for a petulant kick on Peter Higgins on 33 minutes.

Winger Paul Phelan drew dominant Blues level five minutes into the second half, heading in Sean Maguire’s cross at the far post

Blues' substitute Ben Ryan then stooped to head home Dylan Mernagh’s 60th minute cross with his first touch of the ball to put Waterford in front before McDonnell kept the tie very much alive for the second leg.