Sligo Rovers moved back out of the relegation play-off spot following a low-key scoreless draw with Shamrock Rovers at the Showgrounds.
Stephen Bradley's charges carved out the better of the chances in this one with the Bit O'Red again struggling in front of the posts. The point sees the Dubliners close the gap between themselves and Derry to four points.
With Limerick's win over Waterford dropping Sligo into the relegation play-off position, the home side were under pressure to pick up points.
But following a start which didn't bear much in terms of goal-scoring chances, it was Sligo's Mitchell Beeney who the first of the two goalkeepers to be called into action. The Chelsea loanee at full stretch to tip Dan Carr's attempt from 20 yards out.
Lewis Morrison was responsible for Sligo's first real chance of the evening which finally arrived on 33 minutes. The young Scot latching on to Beeney's punt forward before taking a touch past the last Hoops defender but blazing over with only Tomer Chencinski to beat.
Graham Burke, who is expected to play some part in the Republic of Ireland's friendly against Celtic on Sunday was offered the freedom of the Showgrounds one minute from the break as he found himself in ample space at the edge of the Sligo box. However, his twisting effort flew past the far stick, before Beeney had to get down quickly at his front post to keep out Carr's side footer.
Ronan Finn should have done better with his opportunity to break the deadlock 51 minutes into what was a tedious second half display from both teams. Ethan Boyle cleared Regan Donelon before squaring for Finn who could only fire straight at Beeney, and the goalkeeper repeated the trick, keeping out the same man moments later.
Sligo were forced to finish the game with ten men. Jack Keaney took a stray ball to the face in added time. Referee Derek Tomney instructed the Donegal man to leave the pitch for his own safety and with Sligo having already made three substitutions, they had to finish the game one man down.
Indeed the Tallaght men were fortunate to finish with their full compliment as Carr smashed into John Mahon at the death before a melee developed between both sets of players.
Carr's challenge then somehow ended up going unpunished by Tomney.
Sligo Rovers: Mitchell Beeney; Calum Waters, Kyle Callan-McFadden, John Mahon, Regan Donelon; Gary Boylan (Adam Wixted 76), Rhys McCabe, Jack Keaney, Caolan McAleer; Lewis Morrison (David Cawley 64); Adam Morgan (Greg Moorhouse 56).
Shamrock Rovers: Tomer Chencinski; Ethan Boyle, Ali Gilchrist,Roberto Lopez, Lee Grace, Luke Byrne; Aaron Bolger (Sam Bone HT), Ronan Finn, Greg Bolger (Brandon Miele 77); Graham Burke (Dean Dillon 88); Daniel Carr.
