Dundalk fought back to secure a share of the spoils after Longford Town had led 2-0 in their entertaining tussle in Bishopsgate.
Town raced into an early two goal lead but Dundalk’s captain Chris Shields earned his side a draw with an equaliser nine minutes from time.
Just six minutes had elapsed when the home side broke the deadlock, Dylan Grimes played one-two with Dean Byrne and drilling a low shot which Dundalk keeper Peter Cherrie missed as the ball found the bottom corner of the net.
Town doubled their lead in the 14th minute Karl Chambers floated a cross into the box which Cherrie spilled and Rob Manley was given the simple task of slotting it into an empty net.
The visitors pulled a goal back in the 20th minute when a Michael Duffy corner met the head of Daniel Cleary and Junior was able to tap it home.
Dean Byrne’s shot from distance in the 36th minute just went inches wide while one minute Grimes came close with a well struck free.
Just before the break Andy Boyle’s effort went the wrong side of the back post. Right at the start of the second half Cherrie redeemed himself for his earlier mistakes by pulling off an excellent save to deny Manley.
The second-half was a cagey affair with Dundalk piling on the pressure but not creating many chances.
10 minutes from time Andy Boyle came close to equalising while down the other end Byrne missed a glorious chance to restore Town’s two goal advantage.
Dundalk drew level eight minutes from time Junior played in Chris Shields and the captain fired a low drive past Mick Kelly.
Longford Town: Mick Kelly, Shane Elworthy, Mick McDonnell, Aaron O’Driscoll, Karl Chambers, Aodh Dervin, Dean Zambra (Joe Manley,’77), Aaron Robinson, Dylan Grimes, Dean Byrne, Rob Manley.
Dundalk: Peter Cherrie, Raivis Jurkovskis,Daniel Cleary, Andy Boyle, Val Adedokun, Sean Murray (Daniel Kelly, ‘75), Greg Sloggett (Wilfried Zahibo, ‘62), Chris Shields, Michael Duffy, Patrick McEleney (Ole Midtskogen, ‘62), Junior Ogedi-Uzokwie
Referee: Damien McGrath (Mayo)
