ANOTHER game down for Shamrock Rovers, another night wondering where their first win of the season will come from.
The hunt goes on for the champions despite being the more inventive side here in a tight Dublin derby that failed to ignite.
Shelbourne goalkeeper Conor Kearns pulled off two excellent saves to thwart the Hoops, whereas opposite number Alan Mannus didn’t have any to make.
But while Shels had just one shot on target - deep in injury-time - their game plan was never built around peppering the Rovers box.
The Reds have the lowest goals scored - two - at this early stage of the season, but the second best defensive record with three conceded.
And late on, Damien Duff roared his approval at his hard-working side with constant shouts of “outstanding” as they spilled their guts for the cause.
They frustrated Rovers who knew they were coming to Tolka for an arm wrestle - but try as they did, they just couldn’t force Shels to surrender.
On the final whistle, Hoops ace Graham Burke appeared to be unhappy with something that was said from behind the Rovers goal.
He cut an agitated figure as team-mates and coaching staff tried to calm him down, as the travelling support clapped their team off despite the five-game winless run.
It was no surprise to see Rovers dominating the ball from the outset. Equally so it was no surprise to see Shels putting up such stubborn resistance.
But for all their possession and advances to the edge of the box, the Hoops failed to work Kearns enough in that opening half.
When they did, the winter recruit from Galway United was up to the task and thwarted Burke early on.
Luke Byrne also made valuable contributions to that rearguard action with important blocks to deny Rovers in dangerous positions.
Neil Farrugia was winding up to shoot from close range when the Shels skipper turned his shot away at full stretch.
And late in the half, Byrne put his body on the line a second time to ensure that Rory Gaffney’s shot didn’t trouble Kearns.
Kearns did have a slight rush of blood to the head when he raced to the edge of his box to try and intercept a Sean Kavanagh ball up the line to Gaffney.
His relief at seeing Gaffney flash the angled shot wide of the unguarded net was clear for everyone to see.
Shelbourne were happy to attack on the counter and Jack Moylan and Matty Smith were certainly intent on causing mischief.
But the hosts were just a little disjointed in attack in the areas that mattered and the Rovers rearguard - with Pico Lopes back after suspension - were always comfortable.
Shels never worked Mannus, with Smith’s first-half injury-time effort at close range deemed offside just as it crashed off a Rovers body in a crowded box.
But they played with a lot more purpose for the remainder even though Rovers continued to carve out the better chances.
Gaffney really should have buried a Byrne cross in the game’s best chase up to that point, but his header from eight yards lacked punch.
Kearns then made a flying save to keep out a Richie Towell drive from a tight angle as the contest - finally - started to heat up a notch.
And Gaffney was just inches away from connecting with another Byrne cross, when Shels switched off momentarily.
But Duff’s hard-working side deserved their point as Rovers switch their focus to winning at the sixth time of asking next week.
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