AIRTRICITY LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION Shamrock Rovers 2 Shelbourne 2:A DRAMATIC Dublin derby culminated with the spoils being shared at Tallaght Stadium last night as Shamrock Rovers' faltering title bid was ended.

This was a thrilling tussle dripping with excitement, but that will scarcely matter to the Hoops, who were left reflecting on what might have been.

Ciaran Kilduff twice went close in the opening seven minutes and even though Shels were well organised by Alan Mathews the locals were in the ascendancy.

Shelbourne dug in, but they were eventually caught out in the 27th minute when a clever Rovers move ended with a stylish goal with Kilduff rounding the advancing Bennion before slotting home. Six minutes after the restart, though, the locals were stunned when Shels restored parity when Paddy Kavanagh levelled.

Then Shels hit the front themselves in the 77th minute when Philly Gorman netted a delightful chip as Cassidy blocked down an attempted clearance from Craig Sives. Ronan Finn rescued a point for the Hoops with an 83rd minute goal, but it wont be enough to keep them in the title race as they now trail Sligo Rovers by 10 points.

SHAMROCK ROVERS: Jansson; Sullivan, Hawkins, Sives, Powell; Brennan (Greene, 67 mins), Rice, Finn, McCabe; Stewart (ONeill, 86 mins), Kilduff (Twigg, 75 mins).

SHELBOURNE: Bennion; Ryan, Boyle, Paisley, S Byrne; Murphy (C Byrne, 67 mins), Hurley, Cronin, Kavanagh; Cassidy (Clancy, 87 mins); Gorman (Hughes, 80 mins).

Referee: D Tomney(Dublin).