Shelbourne 0 Cork City 0: It was a contest with everything, well, everything except a goal. The tension that comes with top-of-the-table clashes was evident throughout but last night's draw will suit Shelbourne just fine as with four games to play, they have a tidy four-point lead.

Pat Fenlon's men now have two games back to back against Longford Town, whose season is effectively over after winning the FAI Cup final last week.

This was the high-stakes game everyone had been waiting for: a Shelbourne victory would send them on their way to retaining the title; an eighth win on the trot for City and the gap would be down to a single point. This was their chance.

After all the bad blood that was allegedly circulating between Fenlon and rival manager Pat Dolan, not only did they shake hands before the kick-off but Dolan embraced the Shelbourne man in a friendly bear-hug.

Thereafter, the pleasantries ended. There was a bite to this game as City, with a sizeable travelling horde, went about setting up camp in the Shelbourne half. Fenlon's men resisted the early advances with Billy Woods' effort after 20 minutes blocked by a Shelbourne body.

The key man for home side, as ever, was Wes Hoolahan. Cork were aware of the threat he posed, with Greg O'Halloran going into referee Paul McKeon's book on the half-hour for a heavy challenge on the midfielder. Unperturbed, Hoolahan manufactured his side's most meaningful chance of the half but the 25-yard shot fizzed wide.

The feisty nature of the contest continued with Alan Crawley and Woods both picking up cautions, the latter a little unlucky as he appeared to get a touch on the ball before crashing into Stuart Byrne.

The other flashpoint before the break was a Cork penalty appeal after John O'Flynn hit the deck in the box after brushing off the trailing leg of Jamie Harris. McKeon never even blinked.

However, as the players and management trotted off the pitch a scuffle appeared to erupt at the tunnel entrance. Shelbourne assistant manager Eamon Collins was forced to sit in the stand for the second instalment.

Shelbourne reappeared with new shorts, switching from white to blue, and within in a minute their vigour for the battle also appeared renewed as Owen Heary's cross was headed wide by Ollie Cahill.

Unfortunately the chances were falling to the wrong men as Dave Rogers scuffed a shot horribly off- target from an Alan Moore corner.

Then the tempo changed. An anonymous Jason Byrne dropped deep, hugging the right wing, leaving Moore as a lone attacker - a ploy Shelbourne usually reserve for European competition, when they are seeking a draw.

This invited Cork forward but despite the best efforts of winger Liam Kearney their attacking efforts were were heavily reliant on set-pieces.

Kearney, an under-21 international, looked to have finally broken the deadlock on 68 minutes but his left-foot volley from outside the box produced an excellent one-handed save from Steve Williams.

Not to be outdone, Hoolahan scampered to the by-line but his delivery was headed over by Jason Byrne. This was the spur that Shelbourne needed and Fenlon pushed Glen Fitzpatrick into attack alongside the now restored Byrne.

With their tails up, and Fitzpatrick showing for everything, Shelbourne dictated the pace to the final whistle.

SHELBOURNE: Williams; Heary, Rogers, Harris, Crawley; Jim Byrne, Crawford, Hoolahan (Cawley, 83 mins), Cahill; Jason Byrne, Moore (Fitzpatrick, 73mins).

CORK CITY: Devine; Horgan, Bennett, Murray, O'Halloran; Woods, Gamble, O'Callaghan, Kearney; Doyle, O'Flynn (Behan, 89 mins).

Referee: Paul McKeon