A fine strike by Jamie Tomelty in the 59th minute earned Linfield a draw against champions Glentoran.

Linfield took a fifth-minute lead with a Jim Ervin penalty after Johnny Taylor's foul on Michael Carvill.

But the Glens levelled just three minutes later when skipper Paul Leeman glanced in a header from a Gary Hamilton free-kick.

Michael Halliday put Glentoran in front in the 54th minute, running on to Shane McCabe's ball to beat Alan Blayney.

606: DEBATE Give your reaction to the Glentoran v Linfield match

The Blues looked in vain for an offside decision and then hit back to equalise through Tomelty.

It was a vital goal as defeat would have left Linfield eight points behind their cross-city rivals after just three matches.

CARLING PREMIERSHIP RESULTS

COLERAINE 3
Patterson 18, 21, 81
BALLYMENA UTD 2
Aidan Watson 45
Kelbie 61

CRUSADERS 2
Rainey 54
Arthur 87
CLIFTONVILLE 3
Murphy 61
Boyce 71
McMullan 80

GLENAVON 2
Grant 1, McDonagh 60
PORTADOWN 2
Convery 26
Braniff 71

GLENTORAN 2
Leeman 8
Halliday 54
LINFIELD 2
Ervin pen 5
Tomelty 59

INSTITUTE 2
Rogers OG 24
Brown pen 63
LIS DISTILLERY 1
Ferguson pen 50

NEWRY CITY 0
DUNGANNON SW 1
McCafferty pen 77

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