Premier Division Gareth McElroy rescued a draw for Sligo Rovers at the death at Oriel Park to move level on points with Waterford. The Bit O’Red remain bottom of the Premier Division table on goal difference, but that’s two points in two games for new manager Darren Purse. Daryl Horgan fired the home side ahead early in the second half but despite being well in control, Dundalk failed to see the game out. There was a slice of fortune about their late equaliser, but Sligo capitalised on poor Dundalk defending to go level at the death. Purse, taking charge of his side for just the second time, was present at Oriel Park despite the passing of his father earlier in the week. Jack Shorrock, who joined the club on loan from Port Vale started the game following the departure of club captain Will Fitzgerald to Shamrock Rovers earlier this week. Ciaran Kilduff’s men did ask questions of the Bit O’Red defence early on, with a couple of Sam Sargeant saves denying the home side an opener before Trevor Clarke smacked the crossbar from distance. Luke Pearce’s header from Shorrock’s cross was as close as Purse’s men came in the opening half, Dundalk looked the most likely to score, and were well in control of the second-half. They deservedly went ahead on 53 minutes. Harry Groome collected the ball on the edge of the box and while he couldn’t gather his feet in time to get the shot away, he teed up captain Horgan whose high shot crashed into the net. They pushed on for a second, while the visitors really didn’t offer much of a threat. And while well in control, Dundalk didn’t put the game to bed despite the volume of chances created. A brilliant save from Sargeant denied Cian Dillon from close range, while another effort from Ronan Teahan went close. And just as the board flashed five minutes of additional time with Dundalk headed for a comfortable win, Enda Minogue was picking the ball out of the net. Minogue came off his line to collect a cross, but misjudged the flight of the ball. With the keeper off his line, McElroy fired in from close range after good work from Trey George to rescue a vital point. League standing: 10th in Premier Division, 21 pts, 5W-6D-14L from 25 games, recent form DLLDL. Goals this season: 22 scored, 42 conceded (-20 goal difference). Title race: 29 points behind leaders Shamrock Rovers. Last result: Sligo Rovers 2-2 Drogheda United (2026-07-25). Recent form (last 4): 1W-2D-1L (DDWL, most recent first). Next fixture: vs Derry City (away, 2026-08-07) (6th in the table).