Dublin rivals share spoils

Shamrock Rovers - 0 Shelbourne - 0 While avoiding defeat to a main Dublin rival may be generally regarded as a good result, neither of these sides will be happy with a point as they attempt to get their respective seasons back on track.

It scarcely began well for Rovers whose demanding fans would have had more to be disgruntled about but for a dreadful miss inside two minutes by Shelbourne's Ollie Cahill, who succeeded in steering his header wide after an inventive run and cross down the right by his captain Owen Heary.

Rovers rearguard was easily exposed again on nine minutes as Richie Byrne had to scoop clear yards from his own line after David Crawley sent in a dangerously low cross.

Rovers Maltese debutant Luke Dimech was involved in setting up Rovers' first opening which Sean Francis shot over the top before sending his first shot wide across goal.

But it was Shelbourne who quickly took a firm grip on the game and Rovers again had to clear off their goal line on 26 minutes.

A delightful piece of skill by Wes Houlihan on the edge of the Rovers area sent three defenders spinning the wrong way. The under-21 international then rounded Robbie Horgan only for the retreating Graham O'Keeffe to get back to clear.

Houlihan's guile then won a free-kick 25 yards out which Horgan did well to hold from Crawley's powerful strike.

Rovers added impetus to their game in the second half only for a mistake by Terry Palmer to almost gift Shelbourne the lead; Horgan racing off his line smartly to save at the feet of Mark Roberts.

A late rally brought chances for Rovers and Dimech had a goal-bound shot deflected for a corner before his burst set up Stephen Grant to force a save from Chris Bennion.

SHAMROCK ROVERS: Horgan; O'Keeffe, Scully, Palmer, Byrne; Colwell, Dimech, Keddy; S Grant, Francis (Hunt 81 mins), A Grant.

SHELBOURNE: Bennion; Heary, Prenderville, McCarthy, Crawley; R Baker (Geoghegan 53), S Byrne, Crawford, Houlihan; Roberts (Rowe 82), Cahill.

Referee: J McDermott (Dublin).