Own goal saves St Patrick's

Shelbourne remained unbeaten and the champions frustrated by their inability to recapture their form last night at Richmond Park where a quick exchange of goals midway through the second half provided only a brief distraction from what was generally a disappointing contest.

Aside from a couple of good Shelbourne chances early on, neither side seemed capable of creating much around the other's area with the visiting defence proving stubborn at one end and John Powell's succession of poor first touches a problem at the other.

When Powell finally got to turn with the ball at his feet and run at his man he showed that he was capable of causing difficulties for the home side's defence.

But when it came to the finish those Shelbourne supporters who had travelled across the city in the hope of seeing their team go clear at the top were left pining for Stephen Geoghegan who had limped off after less than a quarter of an hour and the suspended Garry Haylock.

Long before then the champions' defence had looked the more likely to concede the opening goal. Just four minutes in Baker's cross had deserved better than Neil Ogden's low drive at Trevor Wood and the teenager almost provided a fine example of the perfect finish five minutes later when he struck the crossbar after one of the game's better build ups.

Baker and his team-mates were rarely so creative again but Trevor Croly almost made up for that with a reckless second half header on the edge of his area that Neil Ogden might have stuck away had he not, in his haste, attempted something a little too spectacular.

When it came, though, the source of the goal was a bit of a shock.

The arrival of Carl van der Velden, the more attacking of Dermot Keely's midfield options, in the 67th minute had been a signal that the visiting manager felt his side could go on and win the game. Up until then the swamping of midfield had suited Shelbourne much more than the home side and the Dutchman's arrival was clearly intended to push the locals further onto the back foot.

Even Keely must have been taken aback, though, to see his substitute fire a 30 yard free home within a couple of minutes.

The shot may have curled a little en route to goal but from so far out and with no great pace behind it it's still hard to figure how it beat Trevor Wood at his near post.

If the opener was a little puzzling, however, then the equaliser that St Patrick's managed just five minutes later was a full blown mystery. For the second time in the game Stephen McGuinness' poor finish appeared to have let Steve Williams off the hook but this time John Stacey opted to give a corner when the source of the supposed defensive contact was unclear.

Gormley sent in a decent corner but nobody looked likely to turn it goalwards until Tony McCarthy got caught in two minds about how to deal with it and deflected it low past his own goalkeeper.

Before the summer the fightback would almost certainly have beeen completed but the old bite hasn't quite been rediscoverd since the Saints kicked off their assault on a third successive title.

A few frees around the area provided a couple of half chances to grab the extra two points but come the final whistle Liam Buckley's side looked at least as happy as their opponents with their point.

ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC: Wood; McGuiness, Lynch, Hawkins; Croly, Gormley, Broughan, Russell, Doyle; Molloy, Hallows. Subs: McCarthy for Hallows (86 mins).

SHELBOURNE: Williams; Heary, Scully, McCarthy, D Geoghegan; R Baker, Doolin, Fenlon, Campbell, Ogden; S Geoghegan. Subs: Powell for S Geoghegan (13 mins), Van Der Velden for Doolin (67 mins). Referee: J Stacey (Athlone).

Former Northern Ireland World Cup favourite, Mal Donaghy, is back in mainstream football. Donaghy will make his managerial debut for Newry Town at Windsor Park this afternoon. The Smirnoff Irish League Premier Division match , which features the teams placed second and third in the table, has taken on an even higher profile as a consequence.

Donaghy already has involvement in football as an Irish FA coach, a role he will combine running Newry Town. The former Luton Manchester United and Chelsea defender said yesterday he was looking forward to the challenge .

"I believe there is unlimited potential about Newry and hopefully will be able to help the club achieve it," he said.

Donaghy has named a former playing colleague, Seamus Heath, who was with him at Luton as his assistant. Whatever happens at Windsor, neither Linfield nor Newry is likely to displace leaders Glenavon, expected to retain the only remaining unbeaten record at the expense of newcomers Lisburn Distillery.