Honours even at the Tallaght Stadium as two of the title favourites played out a scoreless draw in a gripping tie that was played in intermittent rain. Just about the only thing lacking on the night was a goal as two of the League’s heavyweights la
It’s honours even between Shamrock Rovers and Dundalk after two of the heavyweights of the Premier Division played out an absorbing, exciting but ultimately unproductive draw at a bitterly cold Tallaght Stadium.
Patrick Hoban spurned a gilt-edged opportunity for Dundalk with 61 minutes on the clock. Robbie Benson threaded a superb pass through the home defence. Hoban was in the clear but dragged his low left footed effort across the Rovers goal and wide.
Rovers shaded the opening half and will feel they were unlucky not to have opened the scoring on 20 minutes. Graham Burke set up the skilful Miele who unleashed a piledriver from fully 25 yards.
Gary Rogers was well beaten but the ball rebounded into play off the right hand upright. Dundalk’s best chance of the opening half probably fell to debutant Daniel Cleary. The hugely influential Michael Duffy was popping up all over the place, mostly on the left, but this time raided down the right flank.
Rovers netminder Kevin Horgan flapped at Duffy’s cross. The ball fell to Cleary just six yards from goal, but the central defender’s volley flew over the crossbar. The second half produced fewer clear-cut chances. Dundalk will probably feel they had the edge after the break but didn’t creat a whole lot and it’s probably significant that their two main forward players, Murray and Hoban were withdrawn.
