Shelbourne and Galway United battled out a one-one draw, in a game that Joey Brien's side dominated, but found a stubborn visiting defence extremely difficult to break down.
It was Galway, who had only beaten Shelbourne only twice in their past nine meetings, who took the lead as in a rare attack as John Caulfield’s side hit the front on 62 minutes though sub-Kris Twardek.
But just two minutes later Shels equalised with a Harry Wood penalty, to take a share of the spoils and their second draw on the spin as Galway picked up their first point of the season.
Shelbourne had made the better start against a defensively minded Galway with Aaron Bolger sitting in front of a bank of five United defenders every time that the home side had the ball, limiting Shels to some early long-range efforts that never tested Evan Watts in the visitor’s goal.
It took over half an hour for Galway to break out and force their first corner, whipped in by David Hurley and well dealt with by Shels keeper Wessel Speel, clutching the ball well through a ruck of players.
Shels lost their captain Paddy Barrett with a leg injury just before the break, replaced by Sam Bone, as they continued to test the unyielding United defence. Bone broke forward with his first involvement before setting up Harry Wood on the right-hand side of the area, however, Wood’s shot cannoned away to safety off a defender.
The second half began in a similar pattern to the first, with Shels hunting in numbers and Galway refusing to buckle. But just after the hour mark, the game suddenly sprung into life as Galway scored against the run of play.
It was a rare foray into the Shels half as David Hurley got free on the right-hand side of the Reds area before getting to the byline and passing to substitute Twardek with the Canadian poking in the opener close in, much to joy of the decent travelling support in the Ballybough end of the ground.
Twardek, is back in the league having spent a couple of years back playing in Canada, having spent two seasons with Bohemians
But that delight was short lived as Shelbourne were awarded a penalty with their very next attack. Wasiri Williams brought down sub-Rodrigo Freitas and Wood dispatched the resultant spot kick expertly, sending Watts the wrong way in the 64th minute.
Shels had a great chance to win the game not long after as the Reds flooded forward in a counterattack as Wood set up Kerr McInroy, who should have scored, but his shot from inside the area couldn’t beat Watts’ legs.
In added time Shels were awarded a free kick on the edge of the United area as Wood set up McInroy, but the midfielders spinning left foot shot flew wide and the game ended honours even.
Shelbourne: Wessel Speel; Milan Mbeng (Evan Caffrey 60), Odhran Casey, Paddy Barrett (Sam Bone 39) Kameron Ledwidge; Jack Henry Francis, Kerr McInroy; Harry Wood, Maill Lundgren (Daniel Kelly 76), Will Jarvis (Sean Boyd 60); John Martin (Rodrigo Freitas 60)
Galway United: Evan Watts; Arthur Parker, Wasiri Williams, Killian Brouder, Gianfranci Facchineri, Lee Devitt; Aaron Bolger (Mathew Wolfe 82); Stephen Walsh (Connor Barratt 55), David Hurley, Jimmy Keohane (Ed McCarthy 73); Francely Lomboto (Kris Twardek 55).
Referee: Kevin O’Sullivan (Cork)
Attendance: 4052.
