National League Premier Division/Shelbourne 0 Bohemians 0: The Eircom League's two professional outfits squared up to each other last night in what should have been a power struggle for the title. Instead, it showed how little Shelbourne are going to have to sweat to retain their title.
The only regret they can have is that they failed to take one of the early chances as a victory would have stretched their lead to 13 points over their north-Dublin rivals.
In his programme notes, Shelbourne manager Pat Fenlon said it would be "refreshing" to play Bohemians as they would come "to win, not just to frustrate us". Bohemians huffed and puffed but never looked capable of winning.
The powers that be at Bohemians look set to put their trust in manager Stephen Kenny for a further two years but in order to get back into this season's title race they needed to strip Shelbourne of their unbeaten home record.
It never looked likely to happen with Shels threatening to score twice in the opening minute. Only a timely interception by Simon Webb denied Wes Hoolahan, after a Stuart Byrne through ball right from the tip off, while seconds later, Glen Fitzpatrick's neat cross was headed inches wide by Jamie Harris.
The initial prognosis looked bad for Kenny's side as Fitzpatrick, Hoolahan and the league's top marksman Jason Byrne all went close to giving the champions the opening goal.
Up the other end, Glen Crowe was noticeably anonymous. Not even Harris's blatant kick on the striker could spark a reaction, although it did earn the centre back a caution. On 37 minutes, Byrne had the ball in the back of the net only for it to be ruled offside after another excellent lay off from Fitzpatrick. Shelbourne may have dominated the territorial and possession stakes for the opening half yet the one clinical finish never arrived.
However, in first-half injury-time Bohemians almost took the lead when a scuffed shot from Crowe took a wicked deflection off David Crawley but a smart save from Steve Williams averted the goal. Bohemians played with more zest in the second-half but the inability of Kevin Hunt to gain his normal foothold in midfield meant they struggled to get Crowe and Tony Grant into attacking positions.
For Shels, Fitzpatrick continued to show for the ball time and again but to no avail. And his side had the only decent scoring chance of the second half but Ger McCarthy's delivery from the left for the well positioned Byrne was late and well short. Kenny finally made changes when he threw Fergal Harkin and Robbie Doyle, at the expense of Crowe, into the fray but by that stage their opponents seemed content with the point. A moment of magic was required. It never arrived.
SHELBOURNE: Williams; O Heary, Rogers, Harris, Crawley; Hoolahan, Crawford, S Byrne, Cahill (McCarthy 19 mins); Fitzpatrick (Shields 82 mins), J Byrne.
BOHEMIANS: Kelly; Rice (Lynch 47 mins), Hawkins, T Heary, Webb; Ryan, Hunt, Caffrey (Harkin 76 mins), Morrison; Grant (Doyle 76 mins), Crowe.
Referee: I Stokes (Dublin).
