by Shane Murray
Shamrock Rovers' hopes of closing the gap on fourth placed Cork City were dented as they were held to a scoreless draw by Sligo Rovers in tonight's eircom League of Ireland Premier Division clash at Tolka Park this evening.
A lively encounter saw few clearcut chances created by either side, with Adam Hughes going closest for the visitors with a close range header in the first half.
The hosts pressed for a breakthrough but failed to truly test Sligo 'keeper Richard Brush, although Gavin Peers cleared off the line from David Cassidy's 65th minute shot.
There were eight points between the sides at the start of play, and that was how it remained at the end of keenly fought contest, and with two games to go it looks like the Hoops will possibly have to settle for a fifth place finish on their return to the top flight, while the Bit o' Red should end the season sixth in Paul Cook's first campaign in charge.
A tentative opening saw neither side establish dominance and chances were few and far between.
A move started by Sligo striker Fahrudin Kudozovic, who looked dangerous all night, saw him almost release strike partner Gary Curran with a defence splitting ball from inside his own half, but Pat Scully's men cleared.
At the other end, David Cassidy almost got on the end of a superb driven cross from the left, but visiting left-back James Meredith shielded the ball from him and turned to clear his lines.
Industrious right-back Rafael Cretaro then came inside to fashion an opening for Curran on the edge of the area, but he pulled his shot harmlessly wide of Barry Murphy's goal.
Minutes later, the alert Richard Brush raced off his line to smother the ball at the feet of Cassidy after an incisive move almost saw the right-sided midfielder through on goal.
The visitors missed a glorious chance to break the deadlock in the 33rd minute, when Kudozovic swung in a dangerous free-kick from the right and Adam Hughes stole in unmarked at the back post with the home defence caught flat. However, the Rovers captain failed to hit the target with his header despite being unmarked.
In the 41st minute, David Tyrell's perceptive pass almost released Andy Myler, but again Brush was alert to the danger and came off his line to gather as the sides remained deadlocked at the interval.
The home side emerged with intent at the start of the second half and right-back Ger O'Brien broke forward, but his enticing centre was turned behind for a corner with several Hoops strikers waiting to apply the finishing touch.
Ten minutes into the second half, Sligo's marauding right-back Cretaro was put in by another probing ball from Kudozovic, but 'keeper Murphy saved his low drilled effort and the ball broke kindly for Rovers to clear.
The visitors were then lucky not to go behind in the 65th minute when Brush flapped at a left-wing cross and Cassidy's goal-bound shot was cleared off the line by Peers.
Hoops substitute Tadhg Purcell was the second name to go into referee Dave McKeon's book, adding to Peers' first half booking, for a cynical foul on Cretaro, who was again causing havoc with his pace on the right.
Ger O'Brien was also booked minutes later for protesting after McKeon correctly waved away ambitious penalty appeals.
Sligo's Matthew Gordon tried his luck with a speculative effort from outside the box five minutes from time, while substitute Matthew Judge then had a good shot cleared after creating an opening for himself inside the box.
A well-timed tackle by Jamie McKenzie on Rowe in the dying minutes saw the hosts force a corner, and although it came to nothing, both sides continued to press for the elusive opener.
However, both defences remained on top, as they had been for much of the night, and both teams can feel relatively content with a share of the spoils.
Shamrock Rovers: 1 Barry Murphy (capt), 2 Ger O'Brien, 3 Robbie Clarke, 4 Paul Shiels, 5 Barry Ferguson, 6 Danny O'Connor, 7 David Cassidy (14 Robbie Creeney 75 mins), 8 David Tyrell, 9 Andy Myler (17 Tadhg Purcell 57 mins), 10 Ger Rowe, 11 Eoin Doyle (15 Chris Mulhall 57 mins).
Substitutes not used: 13 David Vickery, 16 Karl Coleman.
Sligo Rovers: 1 Richard Brush, 2 Rafael Cretaro, 3 James Meredith, 4 Gavin Peers, 5 Jamie McKenzie, 6 Conor O'Grady, 7 Brian Cash (12 Mark Boyd 82 mins), 8 Adam Hughes (capt), 9 Gary Curran (14 Matthew Judge 73 mins, 15 Stephen Manson 90 mins), 10 Fahrudin Kudozovic, 11 Matthew Gordon.
Substitutes not used: 13 Keith Foy, 16 Thomoslav Arcaba.
Referee: Dave McKeon.
