Gareth McElroy scored what could be a huge stoppage time goal as Sligo Rovers rescued a late point against Dundalk at Oriel Park.
Ciarán Kilduff’s side looked to be cruising towards victory when captain Daryl Horgan fired them ahead early in the second half with what was the 100th goal of his club career.
However, despite dominating proceedings the Louth men failed to find the crucial second, with Sligo – who conceded late against Drogheda Utd six days earlier – punishing a late error to make it two points from as many matches for new boss Darren Purse.
While the Bit O’ Red remain bottom of the table on goal difference, this result will give them a huge boost ahead of next week’s trip to face Derry City.
For Dundalk, it is the fifth consecutive game that they have led in and failed to win, with the Lilywhites now dropping 26 points from winning positions this season – four more than Sligo have managed in total.
It was all one way traffic in the open stages with Sam Sargeant called into action to make relatively comfortably saves from Ronan Teahan, Horgan and Cian Dillon inside the opening 17 minutes.
Sligo would register their one and only attempt of the first half two minutes later when Luke Pearce rose highest to meet new signing Jack Shorrock’s cross from the left but his header was tamely at Enda Minogue in the end.
Dundalk then went agonisingly close to a breakthrough on 20 minutes when Trevor Clarke crashed a rasping shot from just outside the box off the crossbar.
Jeannot Esua of Sligo Rovers (L) in action against Daryl Horgan
Bobby Burns then fired over when unmarked at the edge of the box before Clarke went close again when he really should have scored. Horgan’s corner picked him out unmarked about eight yards out but with the left side of the goal gaping the recent signing from Shamrock Rovers couldn’t hit the target.
The Louth men then had a major score four minutes after the restart when Shorrock broke in behind Mayowa Animasahun before forcing Minogue to tip over, with Gareth McElroy heading just wide from the resultant corner.
Harry Groome then fired well off target at the other end before the breakthrough finally arrived for the hosts on 52 minutes. Clarke set Dillon away, with his ball looking like it would put Groome in. The pass would evade the midfielder but he did well to lay the ball off to his captain, Horgan, who blasted high to the net for what was his 60th goal for the Lilywhites.
Shorrock then had a deep free kick tipped over by Minogue before Sargeant kept Sligo in it with a brilliant point blank save to deny Dillon from Horgan’s knock down.
Horgan then had a free deflect just wide on 78 minutes before Sargeant clawed a ferocious strike by the brilliant Ronan Teahan around the post four minutes from the end.
The hosts looked to be cruising towards the three points until they shot themselves in the foot in the first minute of stoppage time as Minogue came for a cross he couldn’t collect with Trey George getting a shot off that broke to McElroy to toe poke in.
Dundalk: Minogue; Burns, Animasahun, Cornwall, Teahan; Dervin, Buckley (Gaxha 71); Clarke (McDaid 71), Groome (Grivosti 63), Horgan; Dillon (Vassenin 87).
Sligo Rovers: Sargeant; Esua, Denham, McElroy, Stewart (McDonagh 81); Pearce (Quirk 36), McHugh, McManus (Patton 63), Shorrock (George 63); Kavanagh, McGonigle.
Referee: Neil Doyle.