A well-finished equaliser by Stephen Geoghegan two minutes from time brought Shelbourne a share of the points at Tolka Park yesterday evening and deprived St Patrick's Athletic of their opportunity to regain the advantage at the top of the Premier Division table.
After Cork City moved one point ahead on Saturday, St Patrick's were looking to reestablish their two-point lead, but the title race now stands all square with just four games remaining.
Shelbourne may have been deflated from their FAI Cup exit at the hands of Bray last Friday, yet they needed a good result to stay in third spot with Derry City still breathing down their backs.
As it turned out, both sides got what they deserved. St Patrick's opened cautiously, concentrating on precise passing, while Shelbourne appeared desperate to put something together as soon as possible.
Neither side were holding possession for extended periods, although St Patrick's gradually tightened up their attack and their breakthrough 15 minutes into the game was hardly surprising.
A long pass by Martin Russell from the right arrived at the feet of Martin Reilly five metres inside the box and, after a nimble turn, he fired it straight past Alan Gough in the Shelbourne goal.
Tony Sheridan almost responded in kind moments later when his header forced a stretching save from Trevor Wood. The remainder of the first half drifted between half-chances and overambitious attempts.
Shelbourne's Dessie Baker found it hard to get the space to create chances as Packie Lynch held the St Patrick's defence firmly together. Shelbourne did manage to lift their game towards the end of the half and were unfortunate not to find a way through. Paul Osam and Stephen McGuinness, however, held firm for St Patrick's in the middle of the park.
Gough was forced to make a number of saves soon after the restart, but to their credit Shelbourne never lost interest in the game. However, they squandered a couple of frees from good positions.
As tensions mounted, St Patrick's seemed to play for safety, content with their one-goal lead.
It cost them dear as Shelbourne were finally rewarded for their pressure when Liam Kelly followed up a long ball from midfield and chased it into the right corner. With only Geoghegan in the box, the cross had to be perfect. It landed in Geoghegan's path and he drove it straight to the net. Trevor Molloy had a goal disallowed for offside at the other end a minute later, and after that there was no time for St Patrick's to secure all three points.
SHELBOURNE: Gough; Heery, Lubby, McCarthy, Scully; Byrne, Baker, Fitzgerald; Sheridan, Geoghegan, Kelly. Subs: O'Brien for Lubby (55 mins), Kelly for Baker (71 mins).
ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC: Wood; Burke, Lynch, Hawkins; Osam, Braithwaite, McGuinness, Croly; Reilly, Russell, Molloy. Subs: Moody for Osam (65 mins), Devereux for Braithwaite (85 mins).
Referee: J McDermott (Dublin).
