Champions Bohemians were held to their first scoreless draw of the season, as Sligo Rovers earned a deserved point at The Showgrounds.
Paul Cook’s side continued their recent upsurge in form with a well-earned draw, while the visitors extended their lead at the top of the table to two points.
The home team unsurprisingly made no changes to the side that defeated Derry City last time out, although they were forced into an early change when Eoin Torpey replaced injured captain Conor O’Grady on 40 minutes.
Bohs made two changes, with Gary Deegan returning from suspension and Ken Oman starting in defence in place of injured duo Glenn Cronin and Mark Rossiter.
Rovers, coming off the back of their first two wins of the season, edged the first half, with Romuald Boco twice going close and Owen Morrison clipping the crossbar.
Gavin Peers thought he had scored with a header on 14 minutes, but a Bohs defender managed to deflect it wide at the last minute. Morrison then saw a curling free-kick skin the top of the crossbar a minute later.
Bohs best chance of the half came from a brilliantly executed half-volley on the turn from Deegan, but Rovers keeper Richard Brush made the save.
The tempo remained high as Boco twice went close with headers from Sean Doherty crosses, but the first flew wide, while Brian Murphy dealt with the second.
Bohs were always threatening, however, and it took a sliding tackle from Peers to deny Brian Shelley from close range, after Jason Byrne skilfully flicked Joseph Ndo’s ball into Shelly’s path.
The champions upped their game in the second half, and it took a brave sliding block by Torpey to prevent Deegan from getting a shot at goal inside the area.
At the other end, the movement of Boco and Raffaele Cretaro continued to cause Bohs problems, but too often they strayed offside and the attack broke down.
Deegan had a shot stopped by another impressive Peers block, before Brush was forced to punch a Jason McGuinness header clear from under the crossbar.
Morrison went close with another free-kick when Boco was fouled by Paul Keegan, but it proved his last act, as he made way for Brian Cash.
Pat Fenlon also made changes, with Killian Brennan and Anto Murphy introduced, and the latter floated a shot too high with his first touch of significance.
Brennan also made an impact, but his dipping free-kick from just outside the area in the closing minutes was just over the top.
Sligo: Brush, Keane, Peers, Ventre, Holmes, Doherty, O’Grady (captain) (Torpey 40), Ryan, Morrison (Cash 72), Boco, Cretaro.
Bohemians: B Murphy, Shelley, Oman, McGuinness, Heary (captain), Ndo, Deegan, Keegan, Carey (Brennan 63), Crowe (A Murphy 75), J Byrne.
Referee: D Tomney.
