Galway United were denied a valuable home victory as a late strike from former player Bobby Burns earned Dundalk FC a 2–2 draw at Eamonn Deacy Park on Friday night.
Republic of Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrímsson was in attendance to watch an entertaining Premier Division clash that saw both sides enjoy spells of control before the points were ultimately shared.
Galway began the match on the front foot and twice threatened early through Stephen Walsh, forcing Dundalk goalkeeper Conor Kearns into action.
Despite that early pressure, it was the visitors who took the lead. Daryl Horgan showed his quality on the left flank, beating Arthur Parker before delivering a cross to the near post where Gbemi Arubi rose highest to head past Evan Watts and put Dundalk in front.
The hosts felt they should have had a penalty before half-time when Walsh went down inside the Dundalk box following contact with Arubi, but referee Alan Patchell waved away the appeals. Walsh later had another penalty shout dismissed as Galway headed into the break trailing 1–0.
Galway came out with renewed energy after the restart and were rewarded with an equaliser. A long pass from David Hurley was brilliantly controlled by Twardek, who drove into the box before a loose ball fell kindly for Walsh to finish and level the game.
The hosts quickly built momentum and soon found themselves in front. After Killian Brouder was fouled just outside the box, Jimmy Keohane delivered a pinpoint free-kick to the back post where Twardek powered home a header to complete the turnaround and make it 2–1.
Dundalk boss Ciarán Kilduff responded by making several changes and the adjustments paid off late in the match.
With around ten minutes remaining, a corner from Horgan was partially cleared by Aaron Bolger but only as far as Burns. The former Galway player reacted quickly and fired a left-footed strike into the bottom corner to level the match at 2–2.
Both teams pushed for a late winner in a tense closing spell, with Galway seeing another penalty appeal waved away while Dundalk forced a number of defensive clearances from the home side.
However, neither side could find the decisive goal and the contest ended level in Galway.
E Watts, A Parker, C Barratt (Twardek 40), J Keohane, K Brouder, S Walsh, A Bolger (Piesold 89), D Hurley (Wolfe 82), G Facchineri, L Devitt, E McCarthy (McCormack 82).
C Kearns, C O’Keefe, B Burns, A Dervin (McDaid 70), D Horgan, G Arubi (Groome 70), R Teehan, E Kenny (Mullen 70), K Buckley (Wilson 70), R Cornwall, J R Wilson.