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Dundalk grab late leveller to deny Harps

Friday 13th July 2007, 12:47 am

Dundalk salvaged a late draw to deny Fin Harps a seventh straight win in the First Division of the League of Ireland on Thursday night. Dundalk's win confirms that they remain top of the division for the weekend while Harps will have to make more inroads on the top three in another game.

Harps went into the game on the back of a magnificent winning streak and will feel a lack of finishing cost them two points at Oriel Park. Conor Gethins had a very early shot tipped onto the woodwork by goalkeeper Niall Gallagher and the keeper saved to deny Tony Shields again with the help of the woodwork later in the first period.

After rounding the goalkeeper Barry Curran couldn't make a clean enough connection to open the scoring before Gethins hammered a shot against the home crossbar and the first division leaders somehow managed to go in level at the break.

Robbie Doyle almost punished Harps for their waste but he failed to connect from a good position just after half-time.

Harps finally found the net just after the hour as Stephen Parkhouse volleyed home a cross from Gethins.

Robbie Dunne popped up to deny Harps on their quest to get into at least the play offs. The former Bray player got in to head level on 80 minutes as he connected with Dave Crawley's corner.

Dundalk : Gallagher, Flanagan, Crawley, Lynch, Marney, Perth (Hughes 62), R Dunne, Williams, Smyth (Vaughan 79), Doyle, McArdle (Hand 70)
Finn Harps : Gallagher, Roddy, Holmes, Boyle, Asokuh, Shields, Curran (Lloyd 86), McGowan, Parkhouse, Gethins, Divin (Crosssan 86).