A goal three minutes into added time kept Shelbourne's nightmare start to the season ticking over at Tolka Park last night. Substitute Glen Shannon did the damage when punishing a short back-pass from Tony McCarthy to round Alan Gough and gleefully slide the ball home to give Sligo a point they never deserved.

James Keddy's surprise return had appeared to work the oracle for Shelbourne as they played Sligo Rovers off the pitch and looked on course to record their first league win of the season.

Despite a scan revealing that the cruciate ligament in his left knee is badly damaged, Keddy has been told to train and play as normal as doctors wait to see how the injury bears up before a final decision on surgery.

Keddy's loss during the previous three games was put in perspective almost immediately as his return on the left of midfield gave Shelbourne a far better balance and shape and they simply tore Sligo apart in the first-half.

Liam Kelly missed three clearcut chances before he played a role in the opening goal in the 27th minute. Dean Fitzgerald's cross from the right was helped on by Kelly for Tony Sheridan to finish from 12 yards with a deft flick from the outside of his left foot.

Sligo goalkeeper Matt Boswell prevented a second goal eight minutes later with a terrific save to keep out a shot from Owen Heary after another sweeping move involving Keddy and Pat Fenlon.

Shelbourne did have a scare on 43 minutes when a back-pass from Mick Neville fell short. Marcus Hallows knocked the ball past Alan Gough but Greg Costello got back to win a goalkick.

A defensive blunder at the other end a minute later by Jim Sheridan gifted the ball to his Shelbourne namesake but Boswell was out fast to clear the danger.

Shelbourne attacked at will throughout the second-half with Keddy hitting a post after a brilliant burst through the Sligo defence within two minutes.

Sheridan should have sewn it up but wasted a glorious chance while Keddy then had a goal disallowed for pushing. The sting in the tail arrived on 93 minutes when Shannon, who'd earlier hit a post in a goalmouth scramble, equalised with virtually the last kick of the match.

Shelbourne: Gough; Costello, Neville, McCarthy, D. Geoghegan; Heary, Fitzgerald, Fenlon, Keddy; Kelly, Sheridan. Sub: Baker for Heary (66 mins).

Sligo Rovers: Boswell; Callaghan, Birks, Sheridan, Hutchinson; Jones, Reid, Ogden, Rowlands; Hallows, Flannery. Subs: O'Grady and Shannon for Hallows and Rowlands (both 70 mins).

Referee: J McDermott (Dublin).