Good evening and welcome to tonight’s liveblog.

Here are the teams:

Drogheda: Sava, Gannon, Hand, McNally, Quigley, Byrne, Foley, R.Brennan, S.Brennan, Hynes, O’Brien.

Sligo: Brush, Henderson, Gaynor, Peers, McGuinness, Cretaro, Ndo, Cawley, Lynch, Connolly, Buchanan.

Ahead of the game, Ian Baraclough has promised fans that Sligo won’t be adopting a lax attitude, despite having already secured the title, saying:

“We’ve trained during the week, re-focused the minds and there are plenty of reasons why we’re determined to get a result on Friday night.”

We’re underway…

If Sligo are trying to convince people that they’re up for this game, they’re not doing a great job of it thus far.

Drogheda have started much better, with Gannon fizzing a dangerous cross in that no one was on hand to meet.

As I type however, Lynch forces a save from the keeper from a narrow angle, when he might have been better off playing the ball across the box.

Sligo are beginning to pass the ball better now, demonstrating the type of skills that helped them win the league.

There’s been no real end product to their play so far, however.

It’s a gilt-edged chance for Gannon, but he blasts over from close range after a dangerous cross fell invitingly into his path.

Another let-off for Sligo.

Drogheda continue to probe and look the better side at the moment.

However, the hosts have been wasteful in attack too often – the latest instance being a Hand free kick, which is hit straight into the wall.

It’s very much backs to the wall for Sligo at the moment.

While some wayward Drogheda passing and a lack of cutting edge has ensured the hosts haven’t been able to capitalise on their opponents’ slow start, Sligo surely can’t continue to allow their opponents so much possession, if they hope to get anything out of this game.

GOAL FOR DROGHEDA!

A pinpoint corner from Hand is met by a powerful McNally header that finds the corner of the net (30 mins).

The lead is no more than Drogheda deserve, based on how this first half has panned out.

Ian Baraclough will be disappointed that, despite claims they would be up for this game, they have played in a below-par and sloppy fashion, on the back of their league triumph.

Unsurprisingly therefore, he’s just bemoaned his side’s start in an interview with RTE, and says there are “no excuses” for the team’s display.

Drogheda continue to press, with Brennan firing straight into the goalkeeper’s arms from the edge of the box.

Just after that chance, Foley shoots narrowly over after N’do conceded possession in a dangerous area.

It really has been a poor performance from the league champions, and it would be no surprise were they to concede a second.

A lovely one-two sends Philip Hand through, and his chance just shaves the wrong side of the post.

Sligo Rovers will be relived to hear the half-time whistle, which is imminent.

HALF-TIME: DROGHEDA 1-0 SLIGO ROVERS

Meanwhile, elsewhere tonight…

So at half-time, the only regret that Drogheda will have is that they’ve only scored one goal.

They’ve been excellent, pressing their opponents relentlessly, forcing them to concede possession in dangerous areas and preventing them from getting their passing game going.

In contrast, Sligo very much look like a team with nothing to play for.

They’ve defended poorly a times, and have failed to show the level of sharpness and intelligence to their play that they’ve demonstrated for much of the season.

The second half has begun…

GOAL FOR SLIGO!

RED CARD FOR DECLAN O’BRIEN!

This game has changed utterly in an instant.

Firstly, Buchanan slots home a cross-shot despite looking suspiciously offside (46 mins).

Then, Declan O’Brien, who clearly felt it was offside, gets a second yellow card for voicing his opinion in an overly aggressive fashion to the linesman.

Speaking to RTE, Mick Cooke calls the linesman an “absolute disgrace”.

So all Drogheda’s good work has been undone following one moment of madness.

While they may be justified in feeling aggrieved about the goal, they still could have defended much better in the build-up.

Moreover, O’Brien’s decision to voice his opinion to the linesman was far from clever, especially given that he’d already received a yellow.

It’s a stark contrast from the first half, with Sligo now firmly in control of the game – unsurprisingly given that they have the extra man.

The visitors are slotting it around beautifully, making their opponents work for the ball, and capitalising on their man advantage.

A fan watches Drogheda United play Sligo Rovers from an unusual vantage point (INPHO/Morgan Treacy).

Even against 10 men, Sligo have been somewhat disappointing.

They’ve yet to create any real clear-cut chances since the goal, though they have passed the ball better at least.

Judging by replays, the Sligo goal in fact looks to be onside, thus seemingly vindicating the officials’ decision.

Meanwhile, Foley has left the field with what looks a bad injury, and he is replaced by Sullivan.

Sligo continue to dominate possession.

Drogheda look solid at the back at the moment, but they’ll surely tire as the game reaches its conclusion, given how much chasing they’ve been doing of late.

A ball into the box falls to John Dillon, and Sava does well to tip his opponent’s powerful shot over.

Meanwhile, a number of Drogheda fans are currently doing the conga.

Just over five minutes left for Drogheda to hang on…

GOAL FOR DROGHEDA!

Out of nowhere, Brian Gannon curls an unstoppable shot into the corner of the net to give Drogheda a shock late lead (88 mins).

Incredibly, the ten men looked to have won this game, and have seemingly secured their European spot.

FULL-TIME: DROGHEDA 2-1 SLIGO

So Drogheda earn a hard-fought win, securing their European spot in the process.

It’s probably deserved based on their first-half performance, while a below-par Sligo ultimately failed to make the most of their man advantage in the second half.

Man of the match Alan Byrne admits to RTE that they “made it hard for ourselves” and says his side are “delighted to get to Europe”.

Alright, that’s it from me for now. Stay tuned though, as we’ll have a round-up of tonight’s other Airtricity League games up on the site shortly.

Thanks for reading and commenting.