Two goals from Shane Barrett saw Drogheda United take a valuable point against Sligo Rovers at The Showgrounds.

 

Barrett opened the scoring and then pulled Drogheda level through a penalty on the stroke of half-time.

 

Raffaele Cretaro and Conor O'Grady netted for the home side, but they were unable to force a winner despite dominating the second period.

 

Sligo made two changes to the side beaten in the Europa League, with new signing Rob Turner handed a debut up front, and Danny Keohane brought into a reshuffled backline.

 

Much like they had done against Vllaznia during the week, Rovers dominated the opening exchanges before conceding against the run of play.

 

Owen Morrison hit the crossbar with a long-range shot in the opening minute, before Turner headed a corner over the top.

 

And they were made to pay on 15 minutes when Robbie Martin threaded a ball into the run of Shane Barrett, and he finished powerfully to the net.

 

But Rovers were level just 15 minutes later, when Cretaro, who was still hoppling after picking up a leg injury a minute earlier, brilliantly controlled Romuald Boco's cross, and gave Drogheda keeper Paul Skinner no chance.

 

And Rovers took the lead seven minutes before the break, with Boco again the provider. The Benin international broke down the right before crossing at the endline for captain O'Grady to head to the far corner.

 

But Drogheda got back on level terms on the stroke of half-time, when Paul Crowley was fouled inside the area. Danny Keohane picked up a yellow card for the incident, while Barrett confidently converted the spot-kick.

 

Substitute Christopher Kelly created a chance for Cretaro in a low-key second half, but the striker's shot was blocked and Skinner managed to smoother O'Grady's follow-up as Drogheda secured a point.

 

Sligo Rovers: Brush, Boco, Keane, Ventre, Keohane (Doherty 63), Morrison (Christopher Kelly 68), Ryan, O'Grady (c), Holmes, Cretaro, Turner (Torpey 87).

 

Subs not used: Ciaran Kelly, Feeney.

 

Drogheda United: Skinner, Ryan, Kenna, McNally (c), Clarke, King, Crowley, Chambers, Barrett, Duffy, Martin.

 

Subs not used: Salmon, O'Connor, Woods, Osbourne, Williams.

 

Referee: R Winter.