Sligo rally to snatch last-gasp draw against Kildare

Sligo secured a dramatic draw with Kildare thanks to a stoppage-time equaliser from substitute David Quinn at Markievicz Park.

Half a dozen points from the outstanding Niall Murphy stunned favourites Kildare, who only sparkled in patches.

The hosts finished with 14 players due to a 67th-minute red card for Sean Carrabine, who picked up two bookings, while Kildare ended the game with 13 players – a black card for Kevin O'Callaghan in stoppage-time followed by the dismissal of Darragh Kirwan (two bookings) in the eighth minute of time added on.

On paper this appeared a straightforward assignment for Kildare – they held their own in Division Two of the Allianz Football League, while Sligo were winning Division Four.

Their respective championships also contrasted – Kildare lost the Leinster semi-final but were competitive against a Dublin side that crushed Louth by 21 points in the final; Sligo lost by 14 points to Galway in the Connacht decider.

But Kildare boss Glenn Ryan will have had first-hand knowledge of losing to Sligo as a player when the sides famously met in the qualifiers at Croke Park 22 years ago.

Sligo also beat Kildare in the championship at Markievicz Park in 2005 but it was Kildare that had the edge with a decisive win over the Connacht county at Dr Hyde Park in 2012.

The home side welcomed back experienced goalkeeper Aidan Devaney, who was making his first start of 2023 after recovering from injury.

Kildare opened the scoring with a point from a Paddy Woodgate free as the opening period became a tit-for-tat affair – both sides comfortable in possession and also getting bodies back, but Kildare looked sharper and made fewer turnovers than Sligo.

Sligo had a shot at goal inside the opening five minutes but Alan