Substitute Tony Cousins popped up to score an 87th minute equaliser to earn Shamrock Rovers a share of the spoils in a hard-fought encounter in Ballybofey on Saturday night. The home side, who might have broken the deadlock in the fourth minute when Pascal Vaudequin cleared Kevin McHugh's shot off the line, finally breached the visitors' defence 16 minutes later.

Paddy McGrenaghan, who tormented the Rovers' defence all night, sent in a low cross and Shane Bradley's flick squirmed past Robbie Horgan and into the net.

The home side's joy lasted less than a minute as Pat Deans levelled the tie with a fine shot that flew into the top corner in the 21st minute. A great save from Horgan denied Harps a second goal in the 27th minute when he managed to parry James Marrow's shot away and Fergal Harkin and McHugh both failed to knock in the rebound.

However, those two players combined in the 51st minute to give Harps the lead when McHugh slotted Harkin's cross into the bottom corner. A blistering shot from Johnny Kenny was turned over the bar by Horgan in the 64th minute as Harps stepped up the pressure.

But they couldn't make it pay off and when Billy Woods sent in a low cross in the 87th minute, Cousins was on hand to secure a point for the visitors.

FINN HARPS: D Bradley; R Kenny, Minnock, Scanlon, S Bradley, McGrenaghan, Mohan, J Kenny, Marrow, McHugh, Harkin. Subs: Dodds for Mohan (half-time), Loyd for J Kenny (76 mins), Tierney for Marrow (85 mins).

SHAMROCK ROVERS: Horgan; Vaudequin, Woods, Cronin, Palmer, Colwell, Deans, Robinson, Francis, Grant, Byrne. Subs: Daly for Vaudequin (20 mins), Dunne for Daly (46 mins), Cousins for Robinson (75 mins).

Referee: J Breen (Dublin).