Irish Premiership: Glenavon 1-1 Dungannon Swifts

Paul McElroy scored a stunning late equaliser as Dungannon Swifts held Glenavon to a 1-1 draw in Friday night's derby at Mourneview Park.

Bobby Burns' goal four minutes before half-time put the Lurgan Blues into the lead after a scrappy opening period.

Glenavon failed to find a second to the kill the game off and they paid the price when McElroy grabbed a leveller.

McElroy fired into the top corner from the edge of the area on 86 minutes to rescue a point for the Swifts.

Gary Hamilton's side pass up a chance to go top of the table overnight and stay third, while Dungannon move up to sixth.

It was an open start to the game, with Mark Sykes' cross striking the foot of the post and an off-balance Bobby Burns failing to connect with the follow-up.

Moments later Dungannon came close to breaking the deadlock, McElroy forcing a good save from Jonathan Tuffey, with Ryan Mayse scuffing the rebound into the Mourneview turf.

Both sides wasted headed opportunities, with Burns and Adam Foley heading over for Glenavon and David Armstrong missing the target for the Swifts.

Bobby Burns opened the scoring for Glenavon four minutes before half time

Rhys Marshall went close for the hosts with a strike from distance on the half-hour mark as neither side could stamp their authority on the game.

Mayse forced a good save from Tuffey after scampering clear, the Glenavon defence having stopped in expectancy that the linesman would raise his offside flag.

The home side finally made the breakthrough in the 41st minute when Burns finished off a fine breakaway goal for Glenavon.

Marshall ran down the right flank after a clearance, with Foley following up his initial blocked effort by finding Burns bursting run into the area.

After the interval, McElroy had the first chance, curling into Tuffey's grateful arms after a brief defensive mix-up in the home ranks, while Andy Hall's free kick fell comfortably into the arms of Stuart Addis.

However, Tuffey could do nothing to thwart striker McElroy when he unleashed a fearsome drive into the net to clinch a point for Rodney McAree's men.

Glenavon, who had won their three previous games, remain third and maintain their unbeaten home record, while the Swifts have not lost any of their last six outings, having been beaten in the first three fixtures of their Premiership campaign.