Although both sides produced some attractive attacking football in reasonably good conditions at Oriel Park last night, neither side was able to produce the finish in the penalty area. The most dangerous player was Shamrock Rovers' Tony Cousins, but most of the better chances fell to Derek Tracey and Paul Stokes, who were not as sharp.

For Dundalk, young David Haughey had an outstanding game and continues to look one of the most promising footballers in the league. His attacks out of midfield and crosses into the box deserved a better fate, but unfortunately Dundalk's strikers are either off form or injured at the moment.

Only Brian Byrne seems to be in any form at the moment, and it was he who was denied one of the better scoring chances of the night when Rovers goalkeeper Robert Forde blocked out an effort early in the game.

Forde also did very well early in the second half to deny Hoey, but the save of the match came in the 57th minute when, after a free taken by Marc Kenny gave Cousins a chance to shoot from 12 yards, Dundalk's goalkeeper, Steve Williams, somehow managed to adjust and made a great reflex, one-handed save.

Apart from these few chances, it was mostly the defences on top. Mick Doohan did well for Rovers and Thomas Dunne and Paul Whelan dominated the Rovers defence.