Setanta Cup/ Derry City 0 Drogheda Utd 0:Derry City spurned the opportunity to take outright leadership of the Setanta Cup "Group of Death" when they were held scoreless by Drogheda at the Brandywell last night.

And while Drogheda certainly defended well, they seldom looked like scoring as both teams cancelled either other out in what turned out to be a disappointing battle.

With Derry City manager Pat Fenlon forced to watch the game from the stand due to a two-match touchline suspension, he will also be disappointed not to have won this encounter after his side enjoyed so much more possession after the break.

Derry's best chance in the opening period fell to midfielder Kevin Deery, whose superb free-kick crashed off the Drogheda crossbar.

But it was the visitors who had the most clear-cut scoring opportunity when Stephen Grant caught out the home defence but he poked his effort agonisingly wide of the post.

After the half-time break, Derry began to grow in confidence and in the 69th minute McCourt went close when his well-struck effort thumped the top of the crossbar after Gareth McGlynn's cross had been headed out by the Drogheda defence.

With eight minutes remaining Drogheda went close again but Paul Keegan's shot was charged down by Pat Jennings.

In the end, a share of the spoils was probably a fair result with neither goalkeeper ever seriously extended.

DERRY CITY: Jennings; McCallion, Kelly, Oman, Hargan; McGlynn, Deery, Molloy, Martyn, McCourt; McHugh (Beckett, 39 mins).

DROGHEDA UNITED: Connor; Shelley, Gartland, Gavin, Webb; Baker (Robinson, 65 mins), Keegan, Byrne, Cahill; O'Brien (Zayed, 87 mins), Grant (Fitzpatrick, 65 mins.).

Referee: Mark Courtney(Dungannon).