SLIGO ROVERS returned to the top of the Airtricity League thanks to a 1-1 draw with Dundalk in an action packed game at Oriel Park.

Rafaele Cretaro's 88th minute strike looked to have given Paul Cook's ten men a vital three points only for Mark Quigley to earn the home side a point with a 92nd minute penalty.

After a quiet opening, where both defences held the upper hand, the game opened up on the half hour with Dundalk's Marc Griffin going close with two opportunities in quick succession.

Sligo knew that a win would lift them three points clear at the top of the league. Unusually though, Paul Cook's men lacked a real cutting edge from open play. They looked more dangerous from set pieces though, with Joseph Ndo testing Peter Cherrie with a 30-yard free-kick which the keeper dealt with easily.

The Scot then produced a fine block to deny Iarflaith Davoren in the 38th minute after the left winger thumped a loose ball towards goal after Dundalk had only partially cleared Ndo's free-kick.

The home side should have taken a lead into the interval following a swift counter attack seconds later. Mark Quigley left Foran in his wake to find himself one on one with Clarke but his curling shot went the wrong side of the post.

Dundalk wasted another great chance to go ahead just two minutes into the second-half. Daniel Kearns went past Danny Ventre on the left but Griffin just couldn't get his feet adjusted to tap home from three-yards.

Ventre was given his marching orders six minutes later, picking up a second yellow card from referee Tom Connolly for going down theatrically under a Carl McHugh challenge, leaving the title chasers to see out the final 37 minutes with ten men. This was the sixth red card that Connolly had produced in five fixtures between the sides over the past two seasons.

Dundalk threw on Jason Byrne and Johnny Breen in a bid to win all three points and Byrne had the ball in the net, lashing home after Clarke had kept out a Greg Bolger header, only to see the effort ruled out for offside.

Cretaro's goal, coupled with a tremendous save from Clarke to deny Daniel Kearns in the 89th minute, looked to have given Sligo the win but Quigley had the final say.

DUNDALK: Cherrie; Madden, Bennett, McHugh, Gaynor; Ward (Breen 70), Bolger, Maher, Kearns; Griffin (Byrne 60), Quigley.

SLIGO ROVERS: Clarke; Ventre, Peers, Foran, Powell (Greene 59); Dillon (Blinkhorn 76), Ryan, Ndo, Davoren (Cretaro 79); Russell, Doyle.

REFEREE: Tom Connolly (Dublin).