Sporting Fingal 0-0 Bohemians

Bohemians' quest for a three-in-row of titles was dented when they were held to by a resilient Sporting Fingal side at Morton Stadium.

Although coming into the game with four successive wins behind them, Bohs failed to spark on a night when fourth placed Fingal might have claimed the three points it late on.

The home side's skipper Shaun Williams headed home Conan Byrne's corner on 87 minutes but referee Declan Hanney ruled it out for an apparent push on Jason McGuinness.

Both teams were without their usual holding midfielders through injury and their absence was felt. The Gypsies lacked guile which Paul Keegan brings to their engine-room while Fingal's lynchpin Shane McFaul was sorely missed as his side chased the win to kick-start their prospects of catching Bohs for third spot.

With a draw being of little value to either side, both knew victory
was imperative but the first half failed to ingite.

Glen Cronin's header from a Mark Quigley centre on eleven minutes was weak and saved easily by Darren Quigley while shortly afterwards Fingal skipper Shaun Williams nearly caught out Chris O'Connor with a long-range shot which the 'keeper managed to turn around the post.

Midway through the half, Quigley should have done better when Killian Brennan sliced the opposition defence apart with a dinked pass into the box yet the winger went for power and spun his shot across the goalmouth.

Fingal's lack of service to lone frontman Gary O'Neill left them
resorting to efforts from distance and Ronan Finn almost scored from once such attempt on the half hour mark but O'Connor was relieved to see it sail wide.

There were chances at opposite ends within a minute approaching the break. Jason McGuinness climbed highest to meet Brennan's corner but it marginally cleared the bar while the unmarked O'Neill also nodded over when set up by Shaun Williams.

The second half began with a duel between the two Quigleys as
Bohemians' Mark saw his close range header foiled by Fingal's Darren.

The North Dublin derby then came to life as Paddy Madden flashed a 57th minute header over when he lost his marker Shaun Maher and Finn floated another audacious effort off-target.

Bohs upped a gear in the last five minutes, with Cronin's curler from 25 yards narrowly veering wide and Quigley having a chip across goal slip the far post.

In between, Williams had the ball in the net only to be denied as the game ended disappointingly for both managers.

SPORTING FINGAL: Quigley; Browne, Hawkins, Maher, Frost; Williams, Kirby, Finn; Byrne, O'Neill (Crowe 80), Cahill (Zayed 67).

BOHEMIANS: O'Connor; Heary, Shelley, McGuinness, Powell; Brennan, Cronin, Higgins (J. Byrne 68), Quigley; McGlynn; Madden (Greene 90).

Referee: Damien Hancock (Dublin).