Cork City 1-1 Finn Harps

Finn Harps fought back to earn a crucial point in their battle against relegation when they drew with Cork City at a very wet Turners Cross.

Cork jumped in front when Joe Gamble set up Lawrie Dudfield who thumped home a fine shot from just inside the penalty area, for his fourth league goal in four games after 18 minutes.

The visitors who came into the game after the break equalised when Neil McCafferty converted a penalty on 66 minutes following a hand ball by Darragh Ryan.

Team news before kick-off was that the home side were very much under strength with skipper Dan Murray, defender Danny Murphy, Denis Behan and Colin Healy all serving one match bans; although Healy and Behan would have missed the game because of injuries.

Harps came into the game four points above UCD and Cobh, bottom side Galway five points behind but with one game in hand as the relegation battle really gets going with just one month left in the season.

On a wet night for football with a heavy drizzle falling in Cork during the day, the home team took the lead after 18 minutes when Lawrie Dudfield scored his fourth goal in four games.

Midfielder Joe Gamble made a good break before sending a good pass into the path of Dudfield, who cracked a shot high past James Gallagher in the Finn Harps goal.

Cork almost stretched their lead in the 34th minute when their full back Darragh Ryan belted a 25-yard shot which beat goalkeeper Gallagher and rebounded back into play off the crossbar.

Alan Matthews' side continued where they left off just after the break when Liam Kearney danced down the left wing and sent in a cross which Alan O'Connor stretched to head over the crossbar from six yards.

The visitors who needed the points more than Cork got back into the game and pushed for an equalising goal. Full back Mark Mukendi ran 50 yards before his low shot brought a diving save from home goalkeeper Mark McNulty.

Paul Hegarty's side were rewarded for their second half efforts when they equalised from the penalty spot after 66 minutes. Cork defender Darragh Ryan handled the ball in the penalty area and referee Neil Doyle pointed to the penalty spot. Neil McCafferty sent McNulty the wrong way with a fine shot to the corner of the net.

Finn Harps finished the stronger and Conor Gethins headed inches wide in the closing minutes. A big result for Harps especially with Cobh Ramblers winning in Inchicore.

CORK: McMulty; Horgan, Kelly, Sullivan, Ryan; O'Connor, Gamble, Darren Murphy, Kearney; Dudfield, Kiely.

Substitutes: Woods, Cambridge for Kiely 71 minutes, Waters, Forde, Philpott.

FINN HARPS: Gallagher; Mukendi, Holmes, Boyle, Malcolm; McCaffery, Funstone,
McGowan, Breen; Beckett, Gethins.

Substitutes: Parkhouse for Beckett 74, Tyrrell, Brolly for Breen 84, Labonte, Cullen.

Referee: Neil Doyle (Dublin).