No breakthrough at Tolka Park as Shelbourne and Drogheda United play out tense stalemate
IT ended in a stalemate at Tolka Park as both sides hoping to use the game advantage on the rest to gain ground on the top sides were forced to settle for a point.
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Champions Shelbourne and Drogheda played out a scoreless draw on Monday at Tolka Park
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Neither side could find a winner in a tight and physical encounter at Tolka Park
A neat move down the right side eventually saw Harry Wood cross to the back post to the onloan Liverpool full back James Norris.
The on-loan
But with one win in seven for both sides, a tight affair was on the cards and despite the recent unpredictable form both sat fifth and sixth prior to kick off such is the unpredictable nature of the season.
Kevin Doherty's side had been enjoying the lofty heights of being top of the pile for weeks of the season and looked comfortable out of possession and looked dangerous from set pieces.
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The visitors responded well, bombarding the Shels rearguard and following a couple of set-pieces almost got in front.
Elicha Ahui clipped a ball straight back into the danger area.
Shels stopper Conor Kearns looked to collect but got his bearing all wrong as the ball clipped his fingertips and trickled just wide.
Following the error there was a boy who cried wolf situation as the now infamous 'keeper receiving treatment' stoppage came - that allows both sides a rest - but this time Kearn's needed replacing.
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Just after the half hour mark, the hosts upped the tempo and went agonisingly close when Tyreke Wilson delivered a whipped ball into the area from deep.
Harry Wood made a clever run across his defender but his flick towards goal narrowly missed the target.
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The start of the second half followed the same pattern as the first ended as Shels looked to pin back the FAI Cup winners but just lacked a cutting edge in the final third with the final killer ball lacking.
Kevin Doherty's side sent a quick reminder of the threat they possessed when Douglas James-Taylor got a free run to get on the end of Owen Lambe's outswinging corner but failed to hit the target.
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Another long ball from Dennison caused all sorts of confusion for Shels defence with the towering Andrew Quinn winning a header before Lorcan Healy before the ball was eventually scrambled away.
The tension was palpable as the game entered the dying embers, with one goal looking like it would be enough for either side.
James-Taylor thought he had snatched a winner as he collected substitute Darragh Markey's ball to feet, twisting to fashion a yard of space but Healy stood big to parry the ball to safety.
Despite their best efforts and half chances, neither side could find that all elusive winner with a draw, probably a fair result on the night.
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Shelbourne: 0
Drogheda United: 0
SUN STAR MAN:
Ryan Brennan (Drogheda United)
Shelbourne:
Kearns 6 (Healy 8, 29'); Gannon 7, Ledwidge 7,Wilson 8; Caffrey 7, Chapman 7, Lunney 7 (Martin 7, 65'), McInroy 7, Norris 9 (O'Kane 7, 72'); Wood 8 (O'Sullivan 7, 72'), Odubeko 7
Subs not used:
Kelly, Offor, Adewale, Roche, Tulloch
Drogheda United:
Dennison 7; Lambe 7, Ahui 7, Keeley 7, Quinn 7, Kane 7; Brennan 9, Heeney 7, Farrell 7 (Markey 7, 74'); Davis 8 (Oluwa 7, 72'), James-Taylor 7
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Subs not used:
Brady, Harper Bailey, Cooper, Bawa, Bosakani, Brady, Cruise
Referee:
Rob Hennessy (Limerick) 6
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