St Patrick's Athletic 1 Shamrock Rovers 1: For all their off-field problems, and the eight-point deduction which puts them one-point short of Finn Harps at the foot of the Premier Division table, beleaguered Shamrock Rovers have unearthed a saving grace of sorts in midfielder Pat McCourt.
His stunning goals have given hope to their ever-worsening cause but it was Rovers's over-reliance on him last night that almost proved their undoing.
The former Rochdale player is attracting interest from England and a move back across the water to QPR is touted in the summer. In attempting to squeeze every ounce out of him before his imminent departure, other aspects of Rovers's game are suffering.
A porous defence had leaked 15 goals before last night and, in committing men forward to support the free-running McCourt, St Patrick's made hay and exposed Rovers inadequacies at the back. Goalkeeper Russell Payne gifted St Patrick's the lead before David Mooney rescued a dramatic injury-time point.
St Patrick's started brightly and striker Robbie Doyle was keen to impress at every opportunity. His tendency to swap wings throughout the first half had the Rovers defence badly stretched on more than one occasion.
Five corners in quick succession illustrated the hold Johnny McDonnell's men had on their former tenants in the first half but St Patrick's could still not make a breakthrough.
McCourt, though, nearly made the breakthrough on 29 minutes. He took possession in the St Patrick's box and jinked past Paul Donnelly but when he pulled the ball across the face of goal Mark Rutherford was unable to get the required touch at the back post.
Gerard Rowe, the on-loan striker from Shelbourne, has three goals to his name this season and could have had a fourth seconds after the half-time break but his dipping shot from the edge of the area went just over Payne's crossbar.
St Patrick's then thought they had the opener when Doyle side-footed Rowe's neat through ball into the Rovers net but much to the frustration of the vocal home support and McDonnell the effort was ruled offside.
Having worked hard to suppress their opponents, St Patrick's deservedly took the lead with 19 minutes remaining. Keith Fahy whipped in a cross from the right but the ball missed its intended targets and Payne came off his line to claim. But, under no apparent pressure, the American spilled the ball and turned it over his own line.
St Patrick's then looked to close out the game and Rovers were fortunate not to concede a late penalty. Rowe was again the tormenter as he folded under a Jason McGuinness tackle after good work from Keith Dunne but referee Paul McKeon was unmoved.
Rovers, though, ensured a dramatic finish when they snatched an injury-time equaliser. David Mooney was lurking in the St Patrick's area and he took full advantage of a sloppy clearance. His shot bounced off the crossbar and over the line.
ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC: Ryan; Prenderville, Foley, Maguire, Caffrey; Fahy, Donnelly, Perth, Dunne; Doyle (Maher 85 mins), Rowe. Booked: Donnelly (24 mins)
SHAMROCK ROVERS: Payne; Gavin, McGuinness, Gough, Doyle (Daniel 81 mins); McDonnell, Caffrey (McDonagh81 mins); Molloy, McCourt, Rutherford; Mooney. Booked: McCourt (54 mins), Molloy (72 mins).
Referee: P McKeon (Dublin).
