New signing Joe McCready scored a superb late equaliser as Dungannon Swifts heaped yet more misery on Mid-Ulster rivals Glenavon.
The struggling Lurgan side were minutes from claiming their first win of the campaign when the striker curled home a sublime strike to rescue a scarcely deserved point.
All too often this season Dungannon have complained that the quality of their performances have not been reflected in the results, and this was another such occasion.
But while it has usually been a case of falling just short after an encouraging display, this time they will acknowledge that a draw was more than their efforts merited.
Certainly Marty Quinn will wonder how his side didn’t claim all three points.
They dominated for long periods of the match, and took a fully deserved lead when Diarmuid O’Carroll scored from the penalty spot with 14 minutes remaining.
But then, with Glenavon seemingly on the brink of a first victory, McCready struck.
It was his first goal since completing a deadline day move from Institute, and capped another encouraging performance from the young forward.
McCready has given Dungannon’s attack an extra dimension, and his footwork and movement proved a handful to the visitors’ back line all afternoon.
This result keeps the pressure firmly on Quinn. He has vowed to turn things around, but it is uncertain how much time he will be given to try and resurrect the once mighty club’s fortunes.
He can, though, take many positives from this game. Glenavon dominated from the outset and had two early chances to edge ahead.
First Andy Graham swung over a cross towards Ryan Harpur, but he headed wide with an effort which should have at least hit the target.
The same two combined soon afterwards, this time Graham setting up Harpur. His 20-yard strike was much better, beating the goalkeeper but crashing back off the upright.
At the other end, veteran goalkeeper David O’Hare was making his first start of the season after an injury to regular stopper Andrew Coleman.
But it took Dungannon 32 minutes to force him into action, their first chance coming when McCready took a pass from Terry Fitzpatrick before shooting straight at O’Hare.
They came close to taking a half-time lead, however, through Shea Campbell. The striker took aim from the left side of the box but saw his clever attempt bounce off the crossbar.
Glenavon had another lucky escape early in the second half. A corner from Dermot McCaffrey was knocked on for McCready, but his close range header was cleared off the line by Harpur.
Yet the Lurgan side continued to dominate and, just after the hour mark, forced three good attempts on the Dungannon goal in as many minutes.
First Graham directed Harpur’s free-kick into the path of Mark Miskimmin but, just three yards out, the striker somehow lifted the ball over the bar.
Next Niall Henderson sent Peter McCann through on goal but he placed his shot just wide of the back post, before a stinging O’Carroll drive was beaten away by Morgan.
But Swifts’ luck would not hold, and in the 76th minute Glenavon edged ahead.
Adam McMinn fouled Henderson inside the box, resulting in a penalty. O’Carroll’s firmly struck kick gave the ‘keeper little chance.
It seemed Glenavon’s luck had finally turned – until McCready’s late equaliser.
The striker picked up possession 25 yards out and, with the visitors’ defence backing off, he curled a sublime strike past O’Hare to rescue a point.
DGN SWIFTS: Morgan, O’Neill, McCaffrey, McClean (McMinn, 46), Montgomery, Fitzpatrick, Murphy, Ward (S Lavery, 67), Funston, Campbell (McGerrigan, 71), McCready
Subs not used: McKerr, Forker
GLENAVON: O’Hare, Shannon, Jay Magee, Haughey, Henderson, Harpur, O’Carroll, Miskimmin (D Magee, 71), Turkington, Graham, McCann
Subs not used: Johnny Magee, Hagan, Doherty, Brennan
Referee: Stephen Weatherall (Belfast)
