Shelbourne and Drogheda United, the first and third-placed teams in the Eircom Premier Division at the start of the evening played out a cracking 2-2 draw at Tolka Park tonight.

Shelbourne got off to a nightmare start when Drogheda captain headed home from a Paul Keegan corner after two minutes giving Steve Williams no chance in the Shels goal.

Shelbourne kept pushing forward but Drogheda defended well and reduced the home side to long range efforts while looking dangerous on the break themselves. Shane Robinson was unlucky not to put Drogheda further ahead with a powerful shot that hit the crossbar.

Things opened up in the second half and Gary O'Neill drew Shelbourne level with a drive on 51 minutes. Shels went ahead five minutes later courtesy of Greg O'Halloran.

But the lead didn't last long and two minutes later Glen Whelan convered a Shane Robinson cross for the Boynesiders.

Both sides had chances to win it - Shels had two goals disallowed - but in the end they had to be content to share the points.

Second placed Derry City failed to capitalise on Shelbourne's stutter and were held to a 0-0 draw by Bray Wanderers at the Brandywell.

Cork City's 4-1 win over Waterford in the Munster derby lifted them into third.

Results in full:

Eircom League Premiership: Shelbourne 2 Drogheda Utd, Cork City 4 Waterford Utd 1, Derry City 0 Bray Wanderers 0, UCD 1 Sligo Rovers 0

Eircom League First Division: Limerick FC 0 Shamrock Rvs 2, Galway United 1 Kildare County 1, Monaghan United 1 Dundalk 0