Dundalk picked up another valuable point in their struggle to get off the bottom of the table, but they will have to improve even further if they are to escape from the relegation zone. The defence has improved with the inclusion of David Capper, but they have little to offer in attack.

Finn Harps had the best chances in this game, played in a high wind, but the Donegal side also showed poor finishing.

After an initial burst, in which Harps dominated, the game fell away to a mediocre pace. But Patrick McGrenaghan had the chance of the match on 30 minutes when he linked well with Jonathan Speak to open up the home defence, but scraped the ball over an empty goal.

Dundalk's best spell came after the interval when they forced a series of corner kicks, but once again the finishing was poor.

Peter Withnell did have the ball in the Harps net at one stage, but was ruled offside.

Harps finished the stronger and Dundalk had a lucky escape when for the second game in succession skipper Mick Doohan cleared the ball off the line from substitute Kevin McHugh.

Dundalk did have one more chance before the end, when Michael Hart came on as a substitute, and forced a good save.

Dundalk: Williams, Reddish, Crawley, Doohan, Cappagh, Thew, Doolin, Campbell, McNulty, Syndon, Withnell. Subs: Hart for McNulty (74 mins); Ward for Withnell (81 mins).

Finn Harps: McKenna, Vaudequin, Minnock, Boyle, Dykes, McGrenaghan, Mohan, McGettigan, Speak, Mulligan, Kelly. Subs: McHugh and Dowling for Speak and Kelly (71 mins); Bradley for Dowling (83 mins).

Referee: E Barr (Dublin).