Longford Town 0 Finn Harps 0:FINN HARPS and Longford Town must do it all again on Monday evening (7.45) in Finn Park after a lacklustre stalemate last night.

Harps had the first effort on goal in the seventh minute; Mark Forker’s free from the right was headed over by Keith Cowen. Town’s Don Cowan then blasted a shot over the bar.

Harps had a chance to break the deadlock in the 34th minute. Forker’s cross from the right fell nicely to Tommy Bonner but he couldn’t get his effort on target.

In the 44th minute Cowan broke into the box and drilled a lot low across the face of the goal.

Harps were reduced to 10 men after 56 minutes when Kevin McHugh received his marching orders and Town defender Paddy Collins made a crucial block from Gareth Harkin’s effort in the 64th minute to keep his side alive.

LONGFORD TOWN: Rouse, Deans, Hope, Collins, Cronin, L Roche, Walsh, Salmon, A Roche (D O’Reilly 80), Cowan, Skelly.

FINN HARPS: Gallagher, McLaughlin, Cowen, Mailey, Coll, Forker, McElwee, Bonner, Brolly, Harkin, McHugh.:

Referee: J McLoughlin (Athlone)