Last chance Colquhoun.

John Colquhoun grabbed a goal in what could be his last game for Hearts as they cruised to a 3-1 tour win over Dundalk last night.

The Airdrie target struck in the seventh minute, beating Dundalk keeper John Grace with a cheeky back-heel after a great pass from John Robertson had got Gary Mackay in behind the Irish side's defence.

Now, Colquhoun could be heading back to Scotland to link up again with ex- Hearts boss Alex MacDonald, while the Jambos face Shamrock Rovers in Dublin tomorrow.

Dundalk, managed by ex-Aberdeen and Celtic star John Hewitt, had beaten Aberdeen 4-2 when the Dons visited Oriel Park on Wednesday. But there was no chance of a second Scottish scalp after Colquhoun's strike.

Robertson made it 2-0 on the half-hour mark following a mistake inside the box by David Maher and Steve Fulton should have added a third before the interval when he screwed a shot wide.

Jim Jefferies introduced former England Under-21 star Brian Atkinson - freed by Sunderland - at the start of the second half. And within three minutes Hearts were 3-0 up after Colin Cameron took a Stephen Frail pass to steer the ball into the net. Dundalk pulled one back in 53 minutes when Peter Withnall drilled home a shot from 10 yards.

But Hearts should have restored their three-goal lead almost immediately when sub Alan Lawrence shot wide.

The former Airdrie star squandered another good chance shortly afterwards and Cameron was also denied before a goal-line clearance by Dave McPherson foiled Withnall near the end.

Meanwhile, Italian hard man Pasquale Bruno is set for a showdown with gaffer Jefferies next week. The defender wants a further year on his contract and if he doesn't get it, he is prepared to quit the club and head back to Italy.

OTHER RESULTS - Ashington 0, Raith Rov 3; Harrogate 2, Scarborough 6; Kingstonians 0, Chelsea 7; St Alban's 0, Arsenal 6; Shelbourne 0, Leeds 2; Kettering 3, Doncaster 0.

Taken from the Daily Record