Dundalk 1 Cork C 1:LIMERICK TEENAGER Gary Shanahan came to Dundalks rescue as he secured Dundalk a 1-1 draw against Cork City at Oriel Park last night.

The Limerick man restored parity in the 61st minute when he raced on to a wonderful Chris Shields pass to place the ball wide of Mark McNulty to inch the Lilywhites four points clear of bottom club UCD.

Cork had taken the lead thanks to Ian Turner’s 21st minute strike and the Leesiders were left aggrieved when they were denied a late penalty.

Dundalk left-back Nathan Murphy looked to be favourite to deal with Davin O’Neill’s hopeful pass into space but Turner showed good strength to bully the defender off the ball and fire a shot past Cherrie from eight yards.

Murphy did his best to atone for the error and he forced Mark McNulty into a save with a 25-yard free-kick in the 32nd minute. And from Murphys resulting corner, Shanahan saw his header blocked on the post by Neal Horgan.

Turner gave Murphy more bother in the 36th minute, fizzing a ball across goal which Daryl Horgan steered well off target and five minutes later his inviting cross eluded his team-mates.

Murphy carried the ball forward after 50 minutes and he picked out Marc Griffin with a cross only for the striker to screw his effort wide. Chris Shields then saw a deflected effort gathered by McNulty.

Dundalk were back on level terms in the 61st minute. Shields was the creator – his pinpoint pass eluded City right-back Neal Horgan – and Shanahan was rewarded for making a wonderful run as he finished cooly for his fourth league goal of the season.

DUNDALK: Cherrie; McLaughlin, Foran, Whelan, Murphy (McCabe, 76 mins); Walsh (Shannon, 59 mins), Shields, OBrien (McDonnell, 69 mins), Shanahan; Griffin, Rafter.

CORK CITY: McNulty; N Horgan (Morrissey, 78 mins), D Murray, K Murray, Murphy; Turner, Duggan, Dunleavy, D Horgan; ONeill (Kenny, 72), Sullivan (OConnell, 84 mins).

Referee: D Hancock (Dublin).