Sligo 1-14 Louth 2-10

JOHNNY DAVEY came to 14-man Sligo’s rescue with a last-gasp point at Markievicz Park yesterday. Louth looked like preserving their 100 per cent record when JP Rooney blasted a penalty to the net in the 66th minute to them a point ahead. But a Stephen Coen point levelled matters before Davey raced up the field to edge Sligo in front in stoppage time.

Sligo played the last 15 minutes with 14 players after top marksman Adrian Marren was shown a straight red card. A Marren goal after 24 minutes gave Kevin Walsh’s side a three-point lead. The goal came after goalkeeper Neil Gallagher had the ball punched from his grasp. Louth had a Andy McDonnell shot blocked by goalkeeper Philip Greene in the 27th minute as Sligo led by 1-9 to 0-6 at half-time.

A Marren free gave Sligo the perfect start to the second half but they didn’t score again for 18 minutes. Colm Judge’s 50th-minute goal reduced the deficit to three and when Rooney put them ahead Sligo looked in danger of losing their second game.

SLIGO: P Greene; C Harrison, N McGuire, R Donovan; N Ewing, M Quinn, J Davey (0-1); E Mullen, T Taylor; A Costello (0-3), M Breheny (0-3, two frees), A Marren (1-3, three frees); S Coen (0-2), F Quinn (0-1, free), D Kelly (0-1). Subs: S Gilmartin for Mullen 50 mins, S Davey (0-1, free) for F Quinn 52 mins, G Gaughan for Breheny 67 mins.

LOUTH: N Gallagher; D Byrne, D Finnegan, R Greene; R Finnegan, A Hoey, J O’Brien; P Keenan, R Carroll (0-1); D Crilly, A McDonnell (0-1), M Brennan (0-1); C Judge (1-2, one free), JP Rooney (1-4, goal pen), B White (0-1 free). Subs: S Lennon for White half-time, P Rath for Byrne 31 mins, S O’Neill for Keenan 32 mins, D Clarke for McDonnell 61 mins, M Fanning for Hoey 46 mins.

Referee: E O’Grady (Leitrim).