FOR the most part this game was far more frantic than fabulous but Pat Byrne won't be complaining about that. His side may have been lucky to come away from Richmond Park with a point but, in contrast to their display against Shelbourne a week ago, they did at least work hard enough to deserve a bit of fortune.

At the back his side still looked shakey, while up front neither Tony Cousins nor Mark Reid came close to really punishing a St Patrick's defence whose relationship still looks some way short of telepathic after the summer changes.

There was, however, the occasional spark to the side as they broke forward particularly from full backs Ray Carolan and Derek Treacy, who, as part of a five man defence, had been handed more positive roles.

Whatever trouble the home side's defence got themselves into from time to time tended to be overshadowed by their goalkeeper, Gareth Byrne, who repeatedly displayed an unnerving unpredictability under high balls and footwork so poor that, more than once, it looked as though he had been hired by the sponsors of a Spot The Ball competition.

Here, at last, was the explanation for a group of players looking attentively one way while, in the distance behind them, the ball bobbled unnoticed towards the sideline.

The result was that several of the visitors' surges took the form of a charge in pursuit of a lobbed ball and while it was far from pretty to watch most of the time, there certainly seemed a realistic enough chance of success for it to provide excitement.

At the other end, though, it was Robbie Horgan, starting in place of the absent Alan O'Neill, that had the far busier night. Ricky O'Flaherty's 16th minute shot from well inside the box - the best chance of the half - was off target.

However, moments later it was only Horgan's acrobatic intervention that prevented a low drive from Brian Morrisroe from finding the bottom left corner. And just before the break the goalkeeper again did well to stay on his feet long enough to save from O'Flaherty.