DUNDALK striker Peter Withnell was somewhat harshly sent off as his side played out a featureless scoreless draw with Bohemians at Dalymount Park last night.

And on a bad night for the Down Gaelic footballer, he was guilty of wasting the best chance of the match midway through the second half.

It was also a frustrating night for Bohemians, and their manager, Turlough O'Connor, was verbally abused by a section of the home support as he left the field at the end.

The game could have been more lively if Bohemians striker Tommy Gaynor's shot in the seventh minute from the edge of the box had gone in instead of coming back off the underside of the crossbar.

As it was, Dundalk, fighting for Premier Division survival, took much of the game to Bohemians in the first half. The lively Withnell forced the first save of the match from Dave Henderson with a header on 10 minutes while both Brian Byrne and Joe Gallen had chances.

In between, Dundalk were unlucky not to get a penalty after Bohemians' central defender Eoin Mullen appeared to handle a Byrne cross, but referee Hugh Byrne waved away Dundalk's claims.

Bohemians dominated the second half but lacked penetration in front of goal. Donal Broughan, with a volley from Brian Mooney's corner, and a glancing header which went wide from James Coll, were early chances before Gaynor totally miskicked in front of goal.

When Bohemians did get the ball on target, Dundalk goalkeeper Les Fridge was equal to it as evidenced by the save of the game when he tipped Derek McGrath's header over the bar in the 68th minute.

Three minutes earlier, Withnell should have broken the deadlock but shot wide from Ray Camp bell's lay-off with Henderson spreadeagled on the ground after parrying Withnell's initial shot.

Then, with 10 minutes remaining, Withnell reacted to having his shirt tugged by Mullen and having been booked for dissent earlier, was shown the red card by referee Byrne.