Derry City 0 Shelbourne 0: Shelbourne will travel to Iceland this weekend safe in the knowledge their healthy lead at the summit has remained intact.
However, for manager Pat Fenlon this result may well be viewed as two points dropped. Fenlon, who was suspended from the dugout, watched from the Brandywell Stand.
In an uninteresting first-half, both sides had chances to break the deadlock. Shelbourne's Stuart Byrne flashed a free header wide in the 17th minute while Derry's Ciarán Martyn blasted over the crossbar from 16 yards.
The best chance of the opening period fell to the league's top marksman. A superb through ball from Alan Moore sent Jason Byrne clear and while the striker directed his shot on target, Derry goalkeeper CiaráKelly pulled off a superb stop.
In the 32nd minute Derry's Michael Holt found Alan Murphy but his shot crashed into the side netting. The last kick of the first half saw Hargan flick a high ball onto Holt but the winger drove the ball wide.
After the break, Derry had to operate the offside trap as Shelbourne threatened to dominate and while that policy worked for a spell, it was a dangerous ploy. Indeed, Derry caretaker manager Peter Hutton had to block a Jason Byrne effort in the 58th minute.
In the 62nd minute, Derry forced Shelbourne goalkeeper Steve Williams into a save as Murphy and Martyn combined before Holt drove a low shot towards the target.
Derry should have opened the scoring in the 64th minute. Full-back Damien Brennan cut the ball back into the path of Murphy but the striker sent the ball over the bar with the goal at his mercy.
Shelbourne striker Byrne wasted a glorious opportunity to win the match in the 84th minute but he appeared to trip at the vital moment.
DERRY CITY: Kelly; Brennan, McLaughlin, Hutton, McCallion; McGlynn (D Byrne, 78 mins), Doherty, Martyn, Holt; Murphy, Hargan.
SHELBOURNE: Williams; Heary, Harris, Rogers, Crawley; Moore (Cawley, 77 mins), S Byrne, Crawford (Morgan, 8 mins), Cahill; Fitzpatrick (McCarthy, 78 mins), J. Byrne.
Referee: P Hannon (Dublin).
