Bohemians kept their 5 point advantage over the Hoops at the top of the League of Ireland after this hard fought scoreless draw played in a swirling wind. The home kept possession well in the opening 10 minutes while trying to get Joseph Ndo, wide on the left, into the action at all times.
Gary Twigg almost put Cahill in on goal after 7 minutes and 5 minutes later Robinson’s free-kick was met by the head of Craig Sives but Bohs ‘keeper Murphy tipped his header over the bar. The Hoops were well in the game now and when Purcell robbed Ndo he exchanged passes with Baker but couldn’t get Twigg in on goal.
Barry Murphy saved easily from Anto Murphy after 16 minutes before good play from Rice forced the Bohs defence into a mistake and Cahill fed Twigg in the box who turned well but sent his effort wide.
Keegan stretched to meet Murphy’s throw-in but Barry Murphy was alert at his near post. However the Rover’s keeper was at his best on 26 minutes when Byrne fired in a free-kick from 25 yards and he had to dive full length to touch the ball around the post.
A mistake by Rossiter let Cahill into the box on the left but he shot straight at Murphy. Corie Treacy was having a fine game at right-back and his cross into the Bohs box saw calls for a handball.
Barry Murphy showed his ability on 33 minutes when he made a brilliant double-save from Madden who was just eight yards out after Deegan had caused problems with a run into the area. Byrne then went close with a shot from outside the area.
The second-half was three minutes old when Brennan flicked on a corner but Madden hooked his shot over the bar. The home side almost took the lead on 52 minutes when Madden’s shot took a wicked deflection off Price but Murphy’s quick reactions saw him push the ball away to safety.
Twigg almost punished a sloppy back header from Keegan and on 57 minutes he won a header for Baker to shoot but Murphy saved easily. On the hour a Robinson free-kick was headed down by Purcell to Twigg but the Scotsman shot over the bar from inside the area.
Corie Treacy raided down the right on 65 minutes and got two crosses in but Murphy gathered the ball under pressure from Twigg. On 70 minutes Flynn found Robinson who set up Twigg to cross deep but Purcell tried to take a touch of the ball and the chance was lost.
As the game entered the last 15 minutes the Hoops seemed to defend deeper in their own half and Price made a good defensive header from a cross. A great tackle from Rossiter on 80 minutes denied Baker a run on goal.
The home side pushed for a winner in the last 10 minutes with Price blocking Keegan’s shot inside the box. Substitute Crowe glanced a header across goal in the 90th minute but the Hoops had a let-off in the dying minutes when Crowe released Deegan in the box but he shot wide of the advancing Murphy to keep the tie scoreless.
