Spoils are shared in game of few chances

How the National League's officials must wish they could give their opposite numbers out in RTE a crystal ball for Christmas. Two of this season's precious six opportunities for the game here to impress a television audience have now passed and while this was not quite the entertainment free zone produced in the Brandywell a couple of weeks ago, neither is it likely to prompt pandemonium on the turnstiles this Friday night.

Indeed, as the home side's manager was keen to point out afterwards, the presence of the cameras had forced St Patrick's Athletic to switch the game from Friday night with a resulting drop in the likely attendance of more than 2,000. A substantial loss for which the club will receive nothing in compensation.

There are those who, on the basis of their performances through the bulk of last season, would question the wisdom of Montrose producers who opted to feature Bohemians in both of the early games. While there is certainly a case for spreading the exposure around, though, Turlough O'Connor's side have looked a more exciting outfit in most of their games this year even if the points have been a good deal harder to stumble upon than during the same period 12 months ago.

Dublin derbies, however, are hardly notorious for the quality of their football and while nobody could have left Richmond Park, or drifted away from their television screen, in any doubt about the desire of these sides to prove their worth, considerable doubt remains about either's ability to bag three points against a team reluctant to be beaten.

"I'm delighted with the efforts of my players," said Dolan afterwards, "they just have to get used to the fact that Richmond Park is now considered to be such a fortress that teams come here to defend. We really wanted to put on a show today but fair dues to Bohemians, they came here for a draw and got it. I'll leave it to the public to decide who won the contest on points."

Teams have, of course, considered Inchicore a tough place to visit since the Saints moved back there and in their title winning campaign two years ago it was their ability to take three points rather than one there that provided the backbone of their success.

This season they have yet to win on home turf and while, so far at least, their away form has been superb, they will need to improve dramatically on their current three points from 12 at Richmond if they are to persist as challengers.

Bohemians, on the other hand, travelled across the city having been given an object lesson in playing for a point by Drogheda last Sunday. For much of this contest, despite their usual list of absentees, they were far more positive than that with Brian Mooney producing his best display of the season and those around him all showing a willingness to push forward.

Half chances abounded with clear cut ones more thin on the ground but the visitors enjoyed the best two of the afternoon with Eoin Mullen heading over from close range when the goal beckoned after just five minutes and John Ryan almost deflecting the ball past Trevor Wood when Willie Burke attempted to hoist Mooney's cross clear midway through the half.

Matters were not helped by the extent to which referee John Stacey attempted to protect both goalkeepers with each side being penalised for apparently legitimate challenges and both gradually resorting to greater numbers of long range shots, few of which hit the target.

One by Mooney did force Wood into making a fine save while Trevor Molloy drew a good stop at the other end from Michael Dempsey but for much of the game a goalless draw seemed a likely outcome and, contrary to Dolan's assessment, not at all an unfair one.

On the day that will have been more pleasing for the visitors who were beaten 5-0 here last year. In the longer term, though, both managers know that their sides will need to do better if they are not to get left behind by teams more adept at working out the most productive route to goal.