Dundalk 2 Waterford Utd 2:THE AIRTRICITY League promotion/relegation play-off is on a knife edge going into Friday night's second leg at the RSC as Stephen McDonnell's 75th minute equaliser secured 10-man Dundalk a draw against a very impressive Waterford United side.

Waterford looked the part in an action-packed first half, but it was the home side who drew first blood in the 22nd minute.

Stephen Maher’s ball into space set Chris Reilly away on the left. His first touch took him away from goal but his second was a beauty, cutting the ball back perfectly for the inrushing Lorcan Shannon to fire home with his left foot.

Blues boss Paul O’Brien will have been delighted with the response of his charges to going a goal behind and they continued to pepper the Dundalk goal with Peter Cherrie having to be at his best again to deny Seán Maguire and Peter White.

Dundalk were on the back foot at this stage and their hopes of steadying the ship were left in disarray after 33 minutes when Stephen Maher received a straight red card from after lashing out needlessly at Peter Higgins.

Dundalk’s lead lasted for just five minutes of the second-half as Waterford deservedly drew level. Paul Phelan was in the right spot at the back post to head the ball home.

The tie was turned on its head 10 minutes later. Dylan Mernagh delivered a telling cross and Ben Ryan, just seconds after coming on as a substitute, guided a fantastic header across Cherrie to put United in the driving seat.

The ten men refused to buckle however and half-time substitute McDonnell restored parity in the 75th minute with a 25-yard drive that flew past Packie Holden.

DUNDALK: Cherrie; OBrien, Shields, Burns (Whelan, 13 mins), Osborne; Shannon, Maher, Mountney, Reilly (McDonnell, h-t); Griffin, Rafter (Murphy, 85 mins)

WATERFORD UNITED: Holden; Carey, Breen, Burns, Mernagh; Higgins (Ryan, 60 mins), Dempsey, White, Phelan; Keegan (Walsh, h-), Maguire.

Referee: P McLaughlin (Monaghan).