Champions Drogheda United are still awaiting their first win of the new season after being held to a scoreless draw at the Showgrounds by Sligo Rovers.

Paul Doolin's side were the better side in the opening half, but they were left hanging on for a point in the closing minutes as a rejuvenated Sligo put the pressure on.

Fahrudin Kuduzovic, Rafael Cretaro and substitute Matthew Judge all went close to winning the game for the hosts in an action-packed climax, but Drogheda held on to claim their first point of the new campaign.

Drogs were without the injured Shaun Maher, Jason Gavin, Shane Barrett and Declan O'Brien, and made two changes to the team that lost to Shamrock Rovers.

Stuart Byrne returned to captain the side from midfield, alongside former Sligo player Adam Hughes.

The home side made four changes to the team that lost to St Patrick's Athletic, with Danny Ventre, Seamus Coleman and Gavin Peers returning from suspension, and Brush getting the nod in goal ahead of Patrick Jennings.

An untidy first-half produced little in the way of clear-cut chances or attractive football.

Rovers enjoyed a productive start and also finished the half strongly, but Drogheda were the dominant force otherwise.

Guy Bates had the half's best chance on 23 minutes when he latched onto Joe Kendrick's pass and turned Mauro Almeida, but he sent his low shot the wrong side of the post.

Shane Robinson also went close when he went for goal from a free outside the area on the right-hand side, but Brush dived well to deflect the ball wide.

Rovers were most creative through Anto Murphy on the right wing, and Kuduzovic - a summer target for Drogs - twice went close.

He miscued from in front of the posts after being picked out by Murphy's cross on eight minutes, and volleyed straight at Mikko Vilmunen half an hour later after benefiting from a slip by John Tambouras.

Rovers had chances at the start of the second-half too, and could have taken the lead had Benin international Romuald Boco been a little sharper in front of goal.

Rovers lost captain Peers to injury and could have fallen behind on 67 minutes but for a superb save from Brush.

Eamon Zayed out-muscled Almeida and bore down on goal, but Brush spread himself well and got in front of the Drogheda striker's effort.

At the other end, Joe Kendrick's over-hit back-pass caused Finnish keeper Vilmunen some problems before Paul Doolin introduced Senegalese striker Ibrahim Thiam to try to find a winner.

But it was Rovers that went closest to grabbing the three points when Kuduzovic flashed a free-kick just the wrong side of the post with ten minutes left.

Minutes later, Cretaro won a challenge with Vilmunen for a high ball and Byrne had to clear off the line, before Judge saw a snapshot from inside the area palmed over by Vilmunen.

Sligo Rovers: Richard Brush, Seamus Coleman, Chris Butler, Gavin Peers (Jamie MacKenzie 68), Mauro Almeida, Conor O'Grady, Danny Ventre, Anto Murphy (Brian Cash 63), Rafael Cretaro, Romuald Boco (Matthew Judge 74), Fahrudin Kuduzovic.

Subs not used: Patrick Jennings, Sean Doherty.

Drogheda United: Mikko Vilmunen, Joe Kendrick, John Tambouras (Richie Baker 87), Graham Gartland, Brian Shelley, Shane Robinson, Stuart Byrne, Adam Hughes, Ollie Cahill, Guy Bates (Ibrahim Thiam 76), Eamon Zayed.

Subs not used: Paul Keegan, Aidan O'Keefe, Jamie Ewing.

Referee: Richie Winter.

Courtesy rte.ie