Second-string St Patrick's Athletic earn point against Galway United

Honours were shared at a windy Eamonn Deacy Park with Galway United dominating the second period against an understrength Saints but surrendering ground on both Sligo Rovers and Waterford in the race for a European place.

A sweet Jay McClelland strike had Saints go into the break in front but a mistake from Joesph Anang allowed Ed McCarthy to level, with a point better than nothing for the doughty home side, who will feel they had a goal wrongly disallowed late on.

It was far from a classic but, with Saints already out of the Cup, their hopes of playing European football next season are looking ropey at this stage. Galway retain a fighting chance.

Greg Cunningham made a somewhat belated but high-profile start for Galway United, the Ireland international's recent signing – even at age 33 – an expression of United’s intent: they are targeting the top four.

So are Saints, who made nine changes in between the two Conference League qualifier legs against Sabah.

A tiring trip to Azerbaijan awaits Pat’s – but they would still be very much in the race for fourth if they prevailed in Galway.

There was early cheer for the boisterous home crowd as Al-Amin Kazeem, whose departure from United to Saints lately was rather acrimonious, was deemed guilty of simulation.

For all their alterations, Stephen Kenny still put out a strong Athletic side and they nearly went in front on ten minutes. Under no pressure, Luke Turner dinked a ball over the United defence; after a sumptuous touch, Alex Nolan was confronted by Brendan Clarke, who made a fine save.

The strapping American Patrick Hickey has proven really difficult to deal with from setpieces. He connected with Ed McCarthy’s 18th-minute long through; Stephen Walsh, sensing blood at the back post,