Longford Town 1; St Patrick's Athletic 1: The width of a post maintained Longford Town's Premier Division status, for the moment at least, as this rousing point was enough for them to avoid the last automatic relegation place and provide them with the lifeline of the play-off.
Sean Mannion's mazy run past three Town defenders two minutes from time deserved a winner for self-proclaimed champions St Patrick's, but the substitute watched agonisingly as his low shot came back off the right-hand post.
Longford must now wait for the result of an arbitration hearing on Dublin City's case over the Noel Hunt registration row to see whether it's Finn Harps or Dublin City they meet in that two-legged decider.
A terrific free kick goal from Stuart Holt appeared to have Longford on course for a win in what was a pulsating game before Philip Hughes deservedly levelled for St Patrick's 10 minutes from time.
Both sides could have been ahead at the break after an action-packed first half. Charles Mbabazi Livingstone should have given St Patrick's the perfect start when Robbie Griffin played him in on goal after just 15 seconds. But the Ugandan's feeble effort was comfortably held by Stephen O'Brien.
Longford then took a grip on the game to created a couple of good openings. Eric Lavine blazed over the top while efforts from Mark Byrne and Staurt Byrne were also misses before Fergal Coleman was inches wide with a glancing header from a Stuart Holt cross.
St Patrick's slowly got into the game and enjoyed a good spell in the closing stages of the half when they might have gone in front. Longford had O'Brien to thank for a superb double save, both from Griffin, as the home goal somehow remained intact.
The lead goal came on 53 minutes when Longford midfielder Alan Reynolds was fouled some 35 yards from goal. Holt gave Shay Kelly no chance with a direct shot to the top right hand corner of his net.
St Patrick's equalised on 80 minutes when Holt and fellow defender Stephen Kelly got themselves in a muddle as they came to deal with a long Kelly kick out and substitute Hughes nipped in to sidefoot home.
Both clubs must now await their destiny off the field. Longford won't know until Friday at least who they will meet in the promotion/relegation play-off when Dublin City's arbitration hearing is to go ahead. St Patrick's appeal against being deducted 15 points may not be heard this week.
However, manager Dolan was typically defiant, insisting his team deserved to be champions.
"Either the league gives us the trophy or they don't," said Dolan. "But somebody will give us a championship trophy and the gold medals because that's what we deserve. I don't think there is a football person in the country who doesn't want to recognise St Pat's as champions. We won it by five points and that's a fair distance."
LONGFORD TOWN: O'Brien; Holt, McNally, Kelly, S Byrne; Kirby, Reynolds (Perth 59), S. Byrne, M Byrne (Zellor 76); Lavine, Coleman (O'Connor 69).
ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC: S Kelly; Croly, Maguire, Foley; Burke (G Doyle 80), Griffin, Osam, Russell, L Kelly (Hughes 57), Mbabazi (Mannion 67), McCarthy.
Referee: J Breen (Dublin).
