The meeting of Cork City and Shelbourne produced a great Airtricity League Premier Division clash that had everything but goals in a 0-0 draw at Turner’s Cross.
There was even a late red card for an innocuous looking challenge by debutant Keigan Parker in what was a very clean game.
Despite a host of chances, neither team could break the deadlock.
Ian Turner and Shane Duggan should have scored for the hosts, and Philip Gorman and Conan Byrne came closest for Shels.
With a a pitch bathed in sunlight, the top two sides from last year's First Division decided to bring a fiesta of football to the Leeside venue.
Chances came and went with curious abandon, as both sides continuously left themselves open at the back.
Somehow, it was 0-0 at half-time. In one ten-minute spell between the 25th and 35th minute, Cork created six good chances. Shels had a solitary effort from Philip Gorman in response.
However, the Dublin side dominated much of the play in the half, and came close to scoring several times.
Turner had the best chance for City after 26 minutes when he got on the end of an excellent Davin O'Neill through ball. Unfortunately, he gained such poor purchase on the ball that his effort spun harmlessly wide of Chris Bennion's goal.
The Rebels began the second half with a demonstration of how good they are on the break. From a Shelbourne corner, they worked the ball to Daryl Horgan on the left who carried it 50 yards up the pitch. He found Shane Duggan sprinting up the middle who rippled the net and the stadium erupted in celebration. However it transpired that the midfielder had shot just wide.
Thereafter, Shelbourne dominated once more. Despite this, they rarely troubled Mark McNulty.
He was worried by Conan Byrne's audacious effort from just inside his own half after 75 minutes, but the former Sporting Fingal saw his attempt drift wide.
The second half was short on good chances after the gluttonous first half.
The pace of the game died a little late on, but drama returned when Parker ended his competitive debut in ignominy. After contesting a header with a Shelbourne defender, the referee flashed a red card at him, apparently for an elbow. The home fans howled in disagreement.
Cork were forced onto the defensive thereafter, but Shels couldn't make a breakthrough. A good point for each team in the end.
Cork City: Mark McNulty, Ian Turner (Stephen Kenny, 90 mins), Danny Murphy, Colin Healy, Shane Duggan, Davin O'Neill (O'Connell, 90+2), Vinny Sullivan (Keigan Parker, 71), John Dunleavy, Dan Murray, Kevin Murray, Daryl Horgan.
Shelbourne: Chris Bennion, Lorcan Fitzgerlad, Andy Boyle, Conan Byrne (Anthony Murph, 91 mins), Philip Hughes (Paddy Kavanagh, 65), Kevin Dawson, Brian Shortall, Barry Clancy, Stephen Hurley, Sean Byrne, Philip Gorman.
Referee: P Sutton (Clare).
Attendance: 2,689.
