Galway United and Dundalk played out a 2-2 draw at Eamonn Deacy Park as Bobby Burns scored against his former club to earn the Lilywhites a point on the road.
Both teams entered the encounter on the back of defeats to Stephen Kenny's St Patrick's Athletic side. The man who replaced Kenny as Republic of Ireland boss - Heimir Hallgrimsson - was in attendance on Corribside as he watched on as both teams battled until the very end.
The first half saw Dundalk find gaps in a United side that struggled to gain a foothold on proceedings, and the first real opportunity of the game translated into the opening goal.
Galway native Daryl Horgan was the provider as his left-footed delivery was headed home by an unmarked Gbemi Arubi at the near post to give the Lilywhites the lead in the 12th minute.
A few minutes later, the one-goal advantage could have become two when former Tribesman Bobby Burns almost doubled Dundalk's advantage, but Evan Watts’ foot came to the rescue to stop the low strike.
At the other end of the pitch, the United faithful called for a hopeful penalty on Stephen Walsh, while an Aaron Bolger effort at the edge of the box was blocked down.
The second half began brighter for John Caulfield’s outfit, as a clever pass from David Hurley resulted in their first clear-cut chance and also an equalising goal in the 51st minute.
Substitute Kris Twardek latched onto Hurley’s pass behind the Dundalk backline, before the ball landed at Walsh’s feet, and the veteran striker struck a low effort to bag his first goal of the 2026 campaign.
Momentum was building, and Twardek, who once again impressed off the bench, turned assister into scorer to put United in front in the 62nd minute.
The one-time capped Canadian international got on the end of a Jimmy Keohane free kick, and his headed effort hit the net to the delight of the home faithful.
The Lilywhites struggled to cope with the Tribesmen’s early second-half onslaught, as further opportunities fell to Ed McCarthy and Hurley, but the Tribesmen were unable to increase their advantage.
United would end up rueing those missed chances as Burns, who performed well on the night, brought Dundalk level with a low right-footed strike in the 81st minute after latching onto a loose ball in the box.
Suddenly, the game turned on its head, as Ciaran Kilduff’s side searched for a winner.
Substitute Declan McDaid struck the post, while Horgan and Harry Groome manufactured openings, but both were unable to find a way past Watts.
Ultimately, the Tribesmen were able to hold out and would have been content to come away with a point in a topsy-turvy contest.
Galway United: Watts; Devitt, Parker, Brouder, Facchineri; Bolger, Barratt (Twardek 41), McCarthy (McCormack 82), Keohane (Piesold 90); Hurley (Wolfe 82), Walsh (Pierrot 90).
Dundalk: Kearns; Burns, J.R. Wilson, Cornwall, O’Keeffe; Buckley (T. Wilson 69), Dervin (McDaid 69), Horgan, Kenny (Mullen 69); Teahan, Arubi (Groome 69)
Referee: Alan Patchell.
