Shelbourne F.C. 0 - 0 Sligo Rovers
Joshua Bell Curran reporting live from Tolka Park
Shelbourne F.C. and Sligo Rovers played out a belter in Tolka Park on Friday night, producing a whiplash-inducing game that offered up an abundance of chances and made itself an easy contender for the season's finest scoreless affair.
Even if a tad scrappy, the opening half of this crunch clash was nothing if not hectic. From start to finish, both sides fell victim to defence-splitting runs that left the Tolka Park crowd questioning how the fixture was scoreless at the break.
While it was Shelbourne's nervy defence that looked most susceptible to a crack under immense early pressure from Sligo, the deadly North Dublin counter-attack was leaving Sligo's defence in all sorts of trouble. As the pressure built and Duff's voice became ever more strained, the momentum was certainly shifting to Shelbourne, with Martin and Boyd foregoing this brilliant chance before the conclusion of the season's most exciting opening half.
Big chance for Shels at the end of the half!
Both John Martin & Sean Boyd with efforts but an offside was called.
0-0 at half-time!#SHESLI | #LOI pic.twitter.com/rKXeiNXbMe
— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) September 27, 2024
Much like its predecessor, the second half was relentless in fashion as both sides traded blow for blow and chance for chance. While it was Damien Duff's men who looked destined to find the net as the game neared its conclusion, a trojan defensive effort from Sligo Rovers saw them withstand attack after attack to earn an extremely valuable point.
𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧. 𝗔. 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗘!
Liam Burt on the pitch a matter of seconds and almost breaks the deadlock!#SHESLI | #LOI pic.twitter.com/DnZvMPInHW
— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) September 27, 2024
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Damien Duff upbeat after hectic draw in Tolka Park
Speaking to the media after the game, Duff's mood was generally upbeat. While he couldn't help but take a quick jab at the powers that be, he was pleased to see his side back on form - especially as Shamrock Rovers and Derry City sensationally both lost on a dramatic evening at the top of the table.
A hinge of disappointment that other teams have lost and we haven't stretched our leads, that shows [how] bizarre the league is this year.
We haven't won but we've gained the points and made the gap bigger. We've created chances to win the game, so we didn't take them. No problem, we'll never criticise anyone for missing a chance could be a big point.....(we) played with a hunger and quality and an attack and quality and just couldn't finish off the final bit.
Speaking about a late penalty shout, Duff remained tight-lipped taking a jab at how his comments are typically received.
I'm not going to criticise referees, I know other people are allowed in this country but I'm not.
Discussing whether Shelbourne were well and truly back on the horse after their recent dry streak, Duff was sure his side's summer woes had been put to bed, claiming his side deserved the win.
I think we did (get back on the horse). The only thing missing, obviously, is an extra two points, but even from an individual point of view, guys finding a bit of form and looking back to their old selves and we've created chances to win the game.
I think we deserved to win the game. We didn't, OK, could be a big point.
While the game had been called a must-win for Duff, shock losses across the league mean that tonight's point was enough to move them four points clear at the top of the table with just five games left in the season.
Elsewhere in the capital, Shamrock Rovers were hosting St. Patricks Athletic who delivered quite the coup beating the reigning champions 3-0 while Drogheda dispatched title contenders Derry City 2-1 to give Shelbourne a hugely welcome bit of breathing room atop the table.
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