Point apiece in chase for Europe

It was business as usual for these two at Tolka Park last night, the home side extending their run without a goal in the league to five games, Sligo making it 14 in all competitions since they were beaten by battling their way to their 11th draw of the campaign.

It says something about the scramble for third place in this season's championship that the point was still enough to send the Dubliners clear into third place. That keeps them at the front of the pack chasing a spot in Europe, a race that involves half of the teams in the division.

As the time ran out for the home side, the Dubliners pushed forward in numbers looking to break down a packed Sligo defence which withstood everything thrown at then all night. With so many of the visitors dropping back, however, there was little or no space to be found and, a couple of scares when Nicky Brujos failed to gather corners aside, Sligo's remarkable run without defeat never looked to be seriously under threat.

Sligo, on the other hand, should have scored early in the second period. Half-time substitute, Lee Thew sent Padraig Moran clear but, not for the first time in the game, the 25 year-old's finish was terrible and Robbie Horgan, who had opted to stay on his line, must have been very pleased to see the ball bobble harmlessly wide.

Sligo using the strong breeze to their advantage, knocking the ball out long for Sean Flannery and Moran to chase, and forcing the two best saves of the half from Horgan.

The Dubliners' goalkeeper did well to block Moran midway through the half after Brujos' long clearance had deceived the local defence but his outstanding contribution came late on when he first pushed over Mark Hutchison's lob from the left and then, a couple of minutes later, got down quickly to stop Flannery's shot.

At the other end, the hosts were taking a more patient approach, looking to carve up the Sligo defence with Tony Cousins the focus of most of their moves. More than once the passes came from deep, especially down the right hand side where Mark O'Neill and Aaron Lynch both showed an eye for an opportunity. But Brujos remained surprisingly untroubled with Cousins 12th minute drive over after Sean Murray had gathered Steve Birks's fumbled clearance, as close as Mick Byrne's side came to breaking the deadlock.

Shamrock Rovers: Horgan; O'Neill, Whelan, Corbally, Tracey; Lynch, Colwell, Purdy, Murray; Stokes, Cousins. Subs: Morrisroe and Francis for Murray and Lynch (65 mins).

Sligo Rovers: Brujos; Cobesson, Curran, Birks, Hutchison; Southworth, Ogden, Reid, Jones; Flannery, Moran. Subs: Thew for Ogden (half-time), O'Grady for Jones (60 mins)

Referee: T Tully (Cork).