Sligo Rovers and Derry City played out a scoreless draw for the second time this season, after a thoroughly entertaining encounter at The Showgrounds.
The result does little to alter either side's mid-table position in teh eircom Premier League, but Rovers could have claimed all three points had the lively Romauld Boco tucked away any of five great chances.
Kevin McHugh went closest for the visitors with a superb first half chip and debutant Thomas Stewart also saw a decent effort well-saved, but a draw proved a fair result from a game high on quality.
The home side stuck with the same XI that defeated Cobh Ramblers last time out, while Derry boss Stephen Kenny kept faith with most of the side that defeated Bohemians in the League Cup midweek.
An entertaining first half by two very well-organised teams was brimming with flowing football, but short on clear-cut chances.
McHugh went close with a smart piece of improvisation on 13 minutes, but his skilful chip was palmed over the bar by Rovers ‘keeper Richard Brush.
Boco went closest at the other end, when he controlled Anto Murphy's cross and broke into the area, but his shot flashed wide of Gerard Doherty's goal.
Niall McGinn also nearly got through on goal when he raced onto a long kick-out, but a superb tackle from Seamus Coleman halted the winger.
It came at a price for the Bit O' Red however, as Coleman had to depart with an ankle injury, to be replaced by Matthew Judge in a restructured Rovers side.
Judge impacted early in the second half when he released Sean Doherty, but his namesake in the Derry goal was equal to his shot.
A minute later Boco hit the side-netting from a tight angle with Judge better placed, and the same player also failed to beat Gerard Doherty when he raced onto Ventre's flick.
Derry also looked threatening, and Gareth McGlynn saw a stinging shot deflected just over the bar after cutting through the middle.
Derry handed a debut to new signing Stewart shortly after, before Ruaidhri Higgins picked up the game's first booking as the tempo picked up for the final quarter.
Rovers substitute Brian Cash went close to breaking the deadlock with a rifled shot just one minute after his introduction, before Doherty again denied Boco with another good stop.
Butler and Sammon were also denied at either end as both keepers worked hard to preserve their clean sheets, with Brush pulling off a flying save to deny Stewart late on.
Sligo Rovers: Brush, Coleman (Judge, 41 mins), Butler, Almeida, Peers, O'Grady, Ventre, Cretaro, Doherty (Cash, 68), Murphy (MacKenzie, 74), Boco.
Derry City: Doherty, Deery, Gray, Delaney, McChrystal, Higgins, Martyn (Molloy, 87 mins), McGlynn, McGinn, McHugh (Stewart, 64), Sammon (Farren, 73).
Referee: Paul Tuite.
