LEAGUE OF IRELAND PREMIER DIVISION Dundalk 0 St Patrick's Ath 0: ST PATRICK'S Athletic are hanging precariously above the relegation zone after this draw at Oriel Park last night. The Dublin side are just a point ahead of a rejuvenated Sligo Rovers side in the battle for the drop.

Dundalk started on the front foot with Michael McGowan and Chris Turner both having early chances well saved by Brendan Clarke, but Seán Connor’s side became disjointed as the half progressed.

Clarke breathed a huge sigh of relief in the ninth minute when referee Alan Kelly decided against taking further action for a foul by the St Patrick’s goalkeeper on Ger Rowe outside the penalty area. The Cork official decided a free-kick was all the indiscretion warranted.

The visitors did little to suggest they are capable of climbing the table with an uninspiring first-half display, although the best chance of the game fell their way in stoppage time when Gareth O’Connor picked out Ryan Guy. The American could only slide the ball past Peter Cherrie’s post.

St Patrick’s opened with a sense of urgency in the second half. O’Connor had the ball in the net after 66 minutes – tapping home after Bobby Ryan’s effort had came back off the post – only to see the effort ruled out for offside.

DUNDALK: Cherrie; Shaun Kelly, Burns, Heary, Simon Kelly (McKinlay, 61 mins); McGowan, Turner, Collins (Mulvenna, half-time), McKinlay; Rowe, Mansaram (Coburn, 90 mins).

ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC: Clarke; Maher, Gavin, Lynch, Stevens; Guy, O'Connor, Byrne, Ryan; Quigley, Dempsey.

Referee: Alan Kelly(Cork).