Dundalk's miserable season continued last night when they lost out to a goal deep into injury time at Oriel Park. Shelbourne deserved their win, but it was difficult to see where referee John McDermott found the nearly five minutes of lost time. That last five minutes was the best of the game, with both sides having chances before Pat Fenlon slammed the ball to the Dundalk net off the underside of the crossbar.

In a poor first half, Shelbourne did most of the attacking but chances were wasted and after Tony Sheridan was unlucky when he hit a post, Dundalk took a surprising lead when Raymond Campbell scored with a gem of a header in the 24th minute from Tom McNulty's cross. Shelbourne manager Dermot Keely took a gamble at half-time by introducing Dessie Baker and Pat Morley to add to his striking force in place of Owen Heary and Stephen Geoghegan. From then on the visitors were practically camped in the Dundalk penalty area, but chances were wasted and it was not until the 67th minute that Sheridan finally got to touch on a McCarthy header which found the Dundalk net.

Shelbourne then faded, but in the closing minutes of the game Dundalk goalkeeper Steve Williams had to make a point-blank save from Morley.

Dundalk: Williams, Reddish, Crawley, Brady, Melvin, Campbell, Doolin, Hoey, McNulty, Thew, Ward. Sub: Murphy for Hoey (73 mins).

Shelbourne: Gough, Costelloe, D Geoghegan, Scully, Sheridan, S Geoghegan, Fenlon, McCarthy, Fitzgerald, Heary, Keddy. Subs: Baker and Morley for S Geoghegan and Heary (half-time); O'Flaherty for Costelloe (78 mins).

Referee: J McDermot (Dublin).