The Cynics needed some convincing of the magic of the Harp FAI Cup after Dundalk had slowed Shelbourne's march to its third consecutive success in the competition at Oriel Park last evening.

Gearing their game to unashamed containment in the hope that they could frustrate the opposition sufficiently to catch them on the break, the Dundalk team succeeded admirably in delivering on the first part of the formula.

Sadly for them, the link between midfield and the front men, Peter Withnell and Brian Byrne, was at all times too scattered to enable them to complete the job, but their manager Jim McLoughlin still had no difficulty seeing some merit in the exercise.

"We proved that we could stop them playing out there this evening," he said. "Now I am confident that we can deliver at the other end of the pitch in the replay on Sunday."

Shelbourne, too, were less than adventurous, at all times observing the first precept of Cup competition by refusing to run with the slightest risk at the back.

In this they were successful, with Greg Costello, Tony McCarthy, Pat Scully and Declan Geoghegan contriving to present a solid front to Alan Gough's goal. But the midfield skills which have illuminated their better displays this season were undeniably missing on this occasion.

Mark Rutherford, the first victim perhaps of McLoughlin's fixation to close up the game, met with no joy in his duels with the returning Shane Reddish, and with Stephen Geoghegan again marked absent through injury, the front two, Des Baker and Liam Kelly, never counted.

Things improved after Baker had been withdrawn in favour of Dean Fitzgerald and Tony Sheridan's eccentric skills were employed in a more advanced role in the second half, but overall it was scarcely breathtaking stuff for a crowd of 2,000.

In the sense that they have succeeded in bringing the tie back to their home grounds, Shelbourne will feel that they now have the psychological advantage. To win the tie, however, they still have to devise a means of plotting routes through the forthright defence offered by Mick Doohan and Kevin Brady. And on the evidence of last night's offering, that could be difficult.

The absence of their new Scottish signing, Ronnie McQuilter, devalued Dundalk's performance and no less than Shelbourne manager Damien Richardson, McLoughlin will now be looking for more positive performances from potential match-winners like Tom McNulty and Brian Byrne on Sunday.

Scully's ability in set-piece situations has accounted for some precious goals this season, and Dundalk were aware of the threat when Pat Fenlon's free kick arced towards the far post in the 10th minute.

Yet, Scully was able to climb relatively unhindered to make firm contact, a costly lapse of concentration by Dundalk which was redeemed only by the central defender miscuing the header.

At the other end Brady's defence, as ever, was alert and disciplined. It was harder to cope, however, with the perceptive 40-yard pass which enabled Byrne to get first run on Scully as he converged on goal shortly afterwards.

Yet again, though, the finish was slipshod and Shelbourne were entitled to feel reprieved as the shot, hit on the up, cleared the crossbar comfortably. Although we were not to know it then, that was as close as either defence was to come to capitulation in a game in which inspiration finished a distant second to perspiration.

Referee John McDermott, back on the ground where he failed to endear himself to the local public against St Patrick's Athletic last week, didn't shrink from the prospect of further alienation by booking Withnell and Costello after they had squared up to each other with all the blood lust of vegetarians.

In a sense, it said all about an anemic opening half, but thanks to Kelly's precise free kick and an equally smart save from Steve Williams, the tempo picked up marginally after the break.

Significantly, perhaps, that coincided with Tony Sheridan's best spell, but overall his performance failed to match his reputation as one capable of providing silver linings to even the darkest of clouds.

Subsequently, Gough was required to prove his bravery when McCarthy's weak back header put him in trouble against Withnell, but overall, the Shelbourne goalkeeper was never required to match the work-rate of Williams in the opposite goal.

It was a measure of much of what had gone before when Williams, without ever nudging heroism, was later named as man of the match, an accolade which he probably secured by getting himself in the perfect position when Sheridan volleyed a cross by Fitzgerald at him in the closing minutes.

Dundalk: S Williams, S Reddish, M Doohan, K Brady, D Crawley; R Campbell, M Melvin, T McNulty, P Carlyle; P Withnell, B Byrne.

Shelbourne: A Gough; G Costello, A McCarthy, P Scully, D Geoghegan; A Sheridan, P Fenlon, D Campbell, M Rutherford; D Baker, L Kelly. Sub: D Fitzgerald (59 mins) for Baker.

Referee: J McDermott (Dublin).