After their unconvincing displays over the past couple of weeks, last night's visit to Terryland Park seemed like an ideal opportunity for the defending champions to reassert their authority at the top of the premier division table. As it turned out they did nothing of the sort and this evening at Dalymount Bohemians could move within three points of their rivals with three games to play.

Shelbourne might well have had this championship wrapped up some weeks ago but there have been too many performances like this when they deserved nothing more than they got. Against an even younger than usual Galway side they could take only a point from an untidy game full of clumsy defending and punctuated by countless free-kicks for minor offences.

The only consolation was that the point, which guaranteed the hosts their place in the top flight or next season, wasn't enough to give the Dubliners the title.

For most of the second period, to be fair, Dermot Keely's side did look by far the more likely side to score. Robert Forde was finally called upon 12 minutes after the break to make a genuine save when Mark Hutchison, Jim Crawford and Dessie Baker linked up to set James Keddy up for a low drive.

The goalkeeper was equal to the challenge but three minutes later he was helpless as Richie Baker whipped in a low cross from the right and his brother Dessie, Stephen Geoghegan and Keddy all narrowly failed to make contact as the ball sped across an open goal. Having opened their opponents a couple of times, though, the champions simply didn't have the wherewithall to press on and win. In fact, neither side had looked capable of really dictating the game, particularly in the first half when the leaders repeatedly resorted to hoofing the ball out of defence in the hope that they might unnerve the young Galway defence.

Still United, for all their inexperience worked hard throughout to deserve their point. Shelbourne, meanwhile, still have their destiny in their own hands despite having won just twice in their last seven league games.

GALWAY UNITED: Forde; Keady, Clery, Silke, Quirke; Ryan, Murphy, Sheridan, O'Brien; Keogh (B Moran, 60 mins), Goldbey (Malee, 80 mins).

SHELBOURNE: Williams; Heary, McCarthy, Scully, D Geoghegan (Hutchison, 53 mins); D Baker, Doolin (Crawford, 61 mins), Fenlon, Keddy; Foran (R Baker, 61 mins), S Geoghegan.

Referee: P Whelan (Dublin).