Limerick City - 0 Drogheda Utd - 0: This clash of the table-toppers in their respective leagues failed to brighten the dull and damp surroundings at Hogan Park last evening, and while Limerick manager Noel O'Connor was pleased to have shared the honours with the holders, he cannot be too optimistic about their prospects in the replay.
Both teams fell short of expectations, with goalmouth incidents in short supply and not enough quality to ignite the crowd, which numbered around 1,000.
Drogheda set out to boss the game and had their opponents on the rack in the opening 10 minutes, without breaching a defence well marshalled by Pat Purcell.
The pacy Declan O'Brien did threaten on a couple of occasions, teasing Noel Mooney with speculative efforts, but it was Limerick who came closest to breaking the deadlock.
Colin Heffernan made a break down the flank and his well directed cross was met head on by Tommy Barrett, only for the ball to be deflected round a post.
There was a let-off for the home side when Mooney parried a corner and the unattended O'Brien was marginally off target with a powerful header.
Heffernan, Limerick's most adventurous player, had goalkeeper Dan Connor on full alert from three successive corner kicks.
Drogheda, who had retreated into their shell for a period, upped the tempo again and, with Keith Fahy linking up well with Simon Webb, renewed their threat.
The constant drizzle made underfoot conditions difficult, but Limerick were not complaining at the break as the sides went in level.
Limerick, growing in confidence, had a comfortable look on the change of ends and a rather subdued Drogheda seemed content not to concede a goal.
Referee Alan Kelly ignored strong penalty claims from Limerick on 54 minutes, when after a Simon Webb back pass fell short Paul Rose challenged Connor for possession, the goalkeeper putting in a two-footed lunge to avert the danger.
Kevin Waters, making a rare first start, was ambitious enough to try a speculative shot from 40 yards, which almost paid off.
Paul Doolin introduced Glen Fitzpatrick for Barrett, and he made an immediate impact with some clever runs. But the holders lacked penetration.
There was a let-off for the First Division side when Mooney spilled a Fahy free but won the ball at the second attempt.
With the bulk of the play in midfield, the crowd became impatient and questioned if either side had it in them to conjure a piece of magic and avoid a second meeting. They didn't.
LIMERICK FC: Mooney, Molan, Buckley, Woulfe, Purcell, Barrett, Heffernan, Kiely, Guerin, Rose, Waters. Subs: McCarthy for Guerin (85 mins), Costelloe for Rose (90 mins).
DROGHEDA: Connor, Webb, Gavin, Gartland, Robinson, O'Brien, Fahy, Shelley, Bradley, Keegan, Barrett. Subs: Fitzpatrick for Barrett (64 mins), Whelan for Keegan (70 mins).
Referee: Alan Kelly (Cork)
