Shelbourne 1 Derry City 1
Obliged to put a value on winning the FAI Cup in order to seek damages from the association for the referee's part in Sligo's third-round defeat of Shelbourne last season, Ollie Byrne estimated the club could have reaped €100,000 had it lifted the silverware last November.
On that basis a win, or even a score draw, in Spain next Tuesday that would see the club through to the Champions League group stages would be worth more than half a century's worth of uninterrupted triumphs in our own competition.
It would have been little wonder then if Pat Fenlon's side hadn't looked quite as motivated as in some of their recent outings although the financial considerations are probably neatly balanced by the fact the prospect of travelling to the Brandywell tomorrow week for a replay would hardly have filled the Shelbourne camp with joy ahead of last night's game.
That, though, is what they'll have to do after a draw most notable for the fact former Shelbourne midfielder Davy Byrne scored both of the game's goals within the space of three first-half minutes. His second, for City, on 26 minutes, was just about the better of the two but you sensed that wasn't why he celebrated it with such unrestrained delight.
Of more immediate concern to Fenlon than a growing fixtures' pile-up was a bad-looking knock suffered by Jason Byrne shortly before the end of the game when Clive Delaney caught him awkwardly on the ankle with a poor challenge from behind.
With Shelbourne having used all their substitutes their leading scorer first limped off the pitch and then back on again and it was clear the striker was still struggling as he made his way off the field after the final whistle.
For Stephen Kenny, meanwhile, this was the first day at a new office and the former Bohemians manager made his presence felt from the outset with two changes to the side that beat Dublin City 2-0 here last Thursday and a new-look formation.
Chief amongst the victims of the reshuffle was Peter Hutton who had managed the side since Gavin Dykes' departure but who started this game on the bench while Michael Holt replaced him on the left side of midfield.
The aim was to inject some pace into a City side that had looked sluggish on last week's visit to the capital. From early on there were signs of an improvement. In midfield the visitors pushed the ball around well and while Ciarán Martyn tended to look a little swamped up front by himself, he looked capable of threatening the hosts any time Gareth McGlynn or Michael Holt got forward in wide positions or Alan Murphy picked up possession within shooting range of Steve Williams's goal.
Derry continued to make a close contest of it for quite some time after the brief exchange of goals but on balance it was Shelbourne who looked the more likely to grab a winner.
Joseph Ndo, Jamie Harris and Jason Byrne all went close to scoring for the Dubliners while at the other end Murphy tested Williams on a couple of occasions.
Late on, looking much the fitter, Shelbourne began to dominate and their pressure nearly paid dividends in the closing minutes when first Ndo capitalised on a mistake by Ciarán Kelly only to fire, from a tight angle, into the side-netting. Then Ollie Cahill stole possession from Clive Delaney but couldn't get the required power into his shot.
Derry City had to work hard to stay on level terms but they were rewarded for their efforts after battling their way through five minutes of added time with a replay Kenny might just feel will come at a more opportune time for him than his opposite number.
SHELBOURNE:Williams; Heary, Rogers, Harris, Crawley; Ndo (G McCarthy, 83 mins), Crawford, S Byrne (Moore, 71 mins), Cahill; J Byrne, Fitzpatrick (Hoolahan, 55 mins).
DERRY CITY:Kelly; Brennan, Delaney, McLaughlin, Hargan; Byrne (Hutton, 75 mins), Doherty; McGlynn (O;Grady, 81 mins), Murphy, Holt (McCallion, 64 mins); Martyn.
Referee:J Feighery (Dublin).
