Shelbourne and Shamrock Rovers share spoils in Tolka Park clash

Shelbourne and Shamrock Rovers shared the spoils at a sold out Tolka Park and the hosts remain top of the early Premier Division table.

On a night where both defences came out on top, there was an element of scruffiness to both goals as Harry Wood's third minute opener was cancelled out by an equally fortunate Aaron McEneff equaliser in the sixteenth minute.

Although it’s only the third week of the season, the early indications from this game show that there will be very little to separate the two sides again between now and November.

Shelbourne flew out of the traps as they did at home to Derry and wasted no time in breaking the deadlock.

A clever corner saw Kameron Ledwidge’s volley from the edge of the box deflect into Wood’s path and he chested and volleyed home from close range to continue his habit of scoring important goals.

It proved to be a double whammy for Shamrock Rovers who added Lee Grace to their heavy list of injuries before the game resumed.

Rovers ended their European oddysey with four teenagers on the pitch last week and they were already halfway to that total when Cory O’Sullivan was introduced.

Shelbourne were not without their fitness issues either and the injury plagued Sam Bone was replaced by Liverpool loanee James Norris after twelve minutes and the youngster put in an impressive shift on the night.

Rovers responded well and were level through their own slice of good fortune. Shels keeper Conor Kearns came and spilled a looping Josh Honohan cross and McEneff turned it home from eight yards.

The first half remained even between the fire and brimstone of Shelbourne and Rovers’ controlled possession, although some of Tolka Park thought Sean Boyd had restored the hosts advantage when his near post header