Dundalk get a late reprieve

National League: A 92nd minute penalty by Trevor Vaughan gave Dundalk a dramatic equaliser in the first leg of the National …

National League: A 92nd minute penalty by Trevor Vaughan gave Dundalk a dramatic equaliser in the first leg of the National League play-off at Oriel Park last night.

The home support was silenced after three minutes when Kenny Browne met an Alan Cawley corner and planted a header past Chris Bennion.

Dundalk got their late equaliser when Christy Doran's overhead kick was handled in the box and Vaughan sent Ben Spicer the wrong way to keep the tie alive ahead of the return leg at the RSC on Saturday night.

DUNDALK: C Bennion, J Flanagan, B Kelly, A Lynch, S Kelly, R Scully (C Doran, 60 mins), R Dunne, P Marney (C O'Connor, 79 mins), K Dunne, T Vaughan, P Hughes (D Hoey, 86 mins).

WATERFORD UNITED: B Spicer, P Flynn, R Hedderman, A Keely (A Reynolds, half-time), K Browne, J Hayes, J Chambers, P Kavanagh (M Casey, 85 mins), R Brosnan, A Cawley (M Pender, 72 mins), P McCarthy.

Referee: P Whelan (Dublin).

  • Join The Irish Times on WhatsApp and stay up to date

  • What’s making headlines in the rugby world? Listen to The Counter Ruck podcast with Nathan Johns

  • Sign up for push alerts to get the best breaking news, analysis and comment delivered to your phone