ST PATRICK'S Athletic full back, Paul Campbell, had the unfortunate luck to turn the ball into his own net 12 minutes from time at Turners Cross yesterday and concede an equalising goal in an important league contest to Cork City. The point that Cork saved helped them keep their title challenge on track,

Yet another draw for St Patrick's meant their hopes of retaining the championship have not been enhanced. Their manager, Brian Kerr, said afterwards: "That was our eight draw of the championship and we are simply drawing too many. Last season we were winning matches like this one."

Cork had more of the play than St Patrick's and appeared to have the greater claims to a win. Crucial to their hopes was a first half decision that denied them a goal in controversial circumstances after 26 minutes.

St Patrick's failed to clear a corner kick from the left wing and when Ollie Cahill lobbed the ball back in to a crowded penalty area Dave Hill headed past goalkeeper Gareth Byrne. The referee disallowed it for offside even though the linesman, who was perfectly positioned, did not flag.

"The goal should have stood", said a disappointed Cork manager, Dave Barry. "He was not offside when the ball was played in, Pats were slow to step out and it was a legitimate goal. Had he been offside the linesman would have Hagged."

Kerr took the opposite point of view and argued that his side were at the wrong end of a refereeing decision when an apparent handball by John Caulfield in the Cork penalty area in the closing seconds went unpunished.

Kerr said: "We played well and I believe we should have won it, even if we had some luck as well. We had 10 men in bed with flu last week, and we had to leave five at home.

St Patrick's succeeded in splitting the Cork defence on four occasions but they Were denied twice by goalkeeper Noel Mooney who raced outside his penalty area to win possession from John Glynn and Rick O'Flaherty. He was lucky when substitute Brian. Morrisroe beat him and struck an upright only nine minutes from time and he conceded St Patrick's only goal in the 70th minute when O'Flaherty raced on to an accurate pass from Trevor Croly.

Cork's recovery spoke volumes for their spirit and caused manager, Barry, to comment: "I am delighted with the performance, we showed our character again when we came back after losing a sloppy goal so late."

Cork's draw was a costly affair, however, for they lost Declan Daly and Kelvin Flanagan with injuries that will keep them out of Wednesday's League Cup final against Galway. Regular goalkeeper Phil Harrington is a doubtful starter but midfielder, Patsy Freyne, should be back.

Ballymena United, tailed to bridge what manager, Alan Fraser, acknowledges is a gap between the first and premier divisions of the Irish League on Saturday.

"It will be a definite step up in class if we win the championship," he conceded after they had lost the home leg of their first round Floodlit Cup tie to Glenavon.

Glenavon, formerly managed by Fraser, are second in the premiership table and have not lost in the last eight matches.

They needed a late goal from substitute Shane Mulholland to see off United, who had plenty of possession.