Gareth Downey, the Monaghan United goalkeeper, was the home side's star at Century Homes Park yesterday. He made a brilliant penalty save just before half-time, and with centre backs Brendan Place and Robbie Brunton, played a big part in this shock draw against a Bohemians team that failed to avail of the many chances that came their way.

After a quiet opening 10 minutes, the visitors put on the pressure and in the 10th and 12th minutes Downey made one-on-one saves from Glen Crowe and Trevor Molloy, getting his foot to the ball each time to deflect it wide. Indeed, the Monaghan goal bore a charmed life in the first half, with both Place and Brunton clearing off the line.

Monaghan lost right back Derek Gill through injury in the 27th minute - he was replaced by teenager Ashley White - but their luck held until half-time.

Place was Monaghan's saviour two minutes into the second period with a great tackle that felled Crowe yards from goal, and Monaghan actually took the lead in the 49th minute when Trevor Vaughan headed home Eddie Mieir's corner kick.

Bohemians, pressing for the equaliser, were lucky in the 55th minute when Monaghan's Darren McKenna broke through and was brought down on the edge of the area by goalkeeper Michael Dempsey, who escaped with a yellow card.

The Dublin side immediately introduced Mark Dempsey and Maurice O'Neill for Dave Morrison and Anthony Folan, and in the 62nd minute Dempsey scored after Downey failed to hold a header from Crowe.

The game concluded in a welter of excitement with the home team defending spiritedly against repeated attacks and four minutes from time United might have brought off a shock defeat when McKenna, put through by Vaughan, failed to control the ball in front of an open goal.

MONAGHAN UNITED: Downey, Gill, McDonnell, Brunton, Place, McGrath, Mieir, Shiels, Vaughan, McKenna, King. Sub: White for Gill (27 mins).

BOHEMIANS: Michael Dempsey, O'Connor, Hill, Hunt, Shevlin, Caffrey, Morrison, Harkin, Molloy, Crowe, Folan. Subs: Mark Dempsey for Morrison; O'Neill for Folan.

Referee: D McKeon, Dublin.