Dundalk Gull’ value for a draw

THERE was no first victory of the season for Dundalk at the Showgrounds last night — but the Lilywhites did pick up a well-earned point.

Fabrice Hartmann (right) struck superbly in the 16th minute, but the Bit O’Red were pegged back in the second half when Jamie Gullan restored parity from the penalty spot.

Sligo, looking to recover from successive defeats, were well on top before Hartmann drove in from the sideline and found space between two defenders before hammering a stunning left-footed effort beyond keeper George Shelvey’s reach from 20 yards.

Effort

Former Dundalk midfielder Connor Malley had to take a Gullan header off his own line on the half hour while the same player fizzed an effort past Shelvey’s post shortly after.

The Louth side were back in the tie on 49 minutes when JR Wilson upended Gullan yards from goal. The former Hibs man coolly dispatching the spot-kick.

Sligo reacted with Hartmann going close twice in quick succession. The German almost caught Shelvey out at his front post from a setpiece out wide, while the same player’s shot hit team-mate Wilson Waweru before rolling past the post soon after.

Gullan then fired straight at the oncoming Ed McGinty after

Connor Malley had conceded possession.

SLIGO ROVERS: E McGinty; JR Wilson, C Wiggett, O Denham, R Hutchinson; N Morahan, C Malley, E Chapman (K Barlow 70); F Hartmann (R Smit 70), W Fitzgerald (S Radosavljevic 80); M Mata (W Waweru HT). DUNDALK: G Shelvey; A Davies, M Animasahun (Z Johnson 25), A Boyle, Z Bradshaw; S High, P Doyle (D Keane HT); S Durrant (R O’Kane 68), D Horgan; R Benson; J Gullan (Eoin Kenny 79). Referee: Paul Norton. Attendance: 2,287.