Bohemians and Drogheda United played out a disappointing scoreless draw at Dalymount Park on Friday night in the eircom League Premier Division.
With both having serious title aspirations, the two sides played cautiously fearing a defeat could give their rivals an early-season boost.
Drogheda were the more threatening and will be disappointed not to have claimed all three points having wasted several gilt-edged chances with Shane Robinson and Glen Fitzpatrick both guilty of missing good opportunities.
Robinson should have scored in the 27th minute when he was picked out unmarked by an Ollie Cahill free kick only for the winger to head tamely straight at Brian Murphy.
The winger was again wasteful moments later when he blasted over from the edge of the box though Bohemians also had opportunities with Kevin Hunt and Owen Heary both almost turning free kicks home.
Glen Crowe, making his debut for the Gypsies, was well marshalled throughout with his only opportunity being an ambitious 40-yard strike that flew well wide after he momentarily got the better of the Drogheda defence.
But Robinson again went close just before half time when a Cahill cross slipped all the way through to him on the back post only for the winger to fire wide.
Drogheda continued to have the upper hand in the second half with Robinson firing straight at Murphy when clean through on goal. ‘
But it was not until the dying moments that Murphy was threatened again when he palmed away a powerful 25-yard strike from Declan O’Brien.
