Sligo Rovers secured their SSE Airtricity Premier Division for next season with an underwhelming 0-0 draw at home to Drogheda United on Saturday night.
The result means Cork City will now contest the promotion/relegation play-off against the play-off winners from the First Division.
Saturday night’s final home league game of the season produced a poor performance overall from Rovers.
They started brightly enough but, generally speaking, the lack of a cutting edge up front (only bottom-of-the table UCD have scored fewer league goals this season) was again the achilles heel.
Rovers best chance of the night came on 13 minutes when a well-worked attacking move down the left set up Fabrice Hartmann – but his well struck volley was brilliantly saved by Drogheda keeper Andrew Wogan.
The first half was held up for close to 15 minutes after a section of the home support let off flares and fireworks, which prompt match referee Alan Patchell to take the players off the field for a time.
When play did resume, Drogheda began to take the initiative and the only Rovers crossbar denied them the lead before half-time.
The second half was a mundane enough affair, which reflected the teams positions in the bottom four – but the point was enough to ensure Premier Division survival for Rovers.
SSE Airtricity Premier Division
Sligo Rovers 0 Drogheda Utd 0
