An in-form Shamrock Rovers side stretched their impressive unbeaten league record to fourteen matches following this competitive scoreless draw with cash strapped Cork City at Turners Cross tonight.
Played in front of a passionate home crowd of 3,700 spectators, the two well matched side played out a game of few goalscoring chances.
A late Billy Dennehy effort was saved by the legs of Rovers goalkeeper Barry Murpy, with the visitors Stephen Rice sending an 84th minute shot just inches wide.
This was the third time the side have finished level in their three league meetings this season.
Rovers arrived on Leeside in top form, having streched their unbeaten league record to 13 matches with their win in Drogheda on Friday night.
That impressive record included nine wins and four draws, with six of those victories in their last seven outings.
Michael O'Neill had Sean O'Connor and Dessie Baker back in the Dubliners squad after suspension, while Paul Doolin made three changes to the Cork side which lost in Dalymount Park to Bohemians.
Defender Neal Horgan and midfielder Stephen O'Donnell were left on the bench,with Latvian forward Guntars Siligailis left out of the squad entirely.
Into the Cork side came young Kevin Long at centre back, Joe Gamble in midfield and Gareth Cambridge in the front line and it was the home side who had the better of the opening half hour, creating a couple of half chances.
The best of those came when a cross from full back Danny Murphy found the head of Cambridge, but his effort from ten yards was easily dealt with by Shamrock Rovers goalkeeper Barry Murphy after just seven minutes.
At the start of the second half Billy Dennehy set up another Cork chance for Fahrudin Kuduzovic, but he fired a shot over the visitors crossbar from twelve yards.
Rovers, roared on by a very large travelling contingent, were competitive and workmanlike without creating too many clear cut openings.
Tadgh Purcell had a shot blocked by Danny Murphy, with the ball flying to the far post for the League’s leading scorer Gary Twigg to head into the arms of the grateful Dan Connor.
Dennehy was then denied by Murphy late on and, a minute later, Rovers midfielder Stephen Rice flashed a 20 yard shot through a crowded penalty area and inches wide.
CORK: 15 Dan Connor;5 Greg O'Halloran,26 Kevin Long,6 Dan Murray,3 Danny Murphy;25 Davin O'Neill,8 Joe Gamble,14 Cillian Lordan,11 Billy Dennehy; 27 Gareth Cambridge(17 Timmy Kiely 63),10 Fahrudin Kuduzovic.
Booked. Murphy(56),Dennehy(71).
SHAMROCK ROVERS: 1 Barry Murphy;19 Pat Sullivan,4 Darragh Maguire,6 Craig Sives,14 Ollie Cahill;7 Shane Robinson,8 Stephen Rice,11 Sean O'Connor (18 Dessie Baker,62),10 Stephen Bradley(13 Paddy Kavanagh,81);9 Gary Twigg,22 Tadhg Purcell.
Booked. Robinson(56),Kavanagh(85).
Referee. Paul Tuite(Dublin).
