Doyle stings his old club

National League Premier Division/Bohemians - 2 St Patrick's Athletic - 2:   Robbie Doyle proved last night miracles can happen. Way past the three minutes of time added on at the finish, the former Bohemians striker curled a delightful free-kick from the edge of the box low into the bottom corner to earn his side the point.

The strike is potentially the fatal blow to Bohemians' chances of catching their north-Dublin rivals Shelbourne, who after last night's results are now 11-points clear with eight to play. At least they have a chance to steal six points off the champions elect when they meet back-to-back in the coming weeks.

This match should have been all about Tony Grant, whose two first-half headers seemed certain to deliver the three points. Bobby Ryan was a constant nuisance on the left, even when Dessie Byrne was switched onto him, and he supplied the centre for Grant to open the scoring on 16 minutes.

Initially, Doyle looked set to be a mere humorous subplot to events on his return to the club that gave him his break. He was offside from the kick-off, petulantly kicked the ball away and almost lynched Stephen Ward in the tackle - the player who forced the move across town.

Referee Eddie Barr felt a yellow card sufficed for the tackle on Ward, but plenty more spectators disagreed with him 10 minutes before the break when Grant appeared to be nudged over in the area by Darragh Maguire. No penalty.

It mattered little, as Grant seemed to have the points wrapped up before half-time with a neat flick at the near post.

Fate had other ideas, though, as with a minute to go St Patrick's centre back Colm Foley's tap-in gave them a lifeline, and when Aidan O'Keeffe was tripped wide on the left four minutes later it gave the final act to Doyle.

BOHEMIANS: Gregg; Rice, Heary, Hawkins, Webb; Ryan (Morrison, 77 mins), Lynch, Keddy, Ward; Grant, Crowe (Farrelly, 65 mins).

ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC: Adamson; Prenderville, Maguire, Foley, Bell (Donnelly, half-time); Quinnless (Casey, 75 mins), Byrne, Fahy, O'Keeffe; Markey (Markey, 70), Doyle.

Referee: E Barr (Dublin).