Richie Foran wasted two glorious chances early on for Shels, before Rovers drew first blood with a bolt from the blue on 44 minutes; Pat Deans deceiving Steve Williams with a shot from all of 35 yards to beat the Shels' keeper.

Shels were back in it a minute after the restart when Pat Fenlon turned sweetly on the edge of the area to fire home with the help of a deflection.

It was helter-skelter stuff at the finish as Shels pressed for a winner, but chances for Foran, Davey Byrne, Owen Heary and James Keddy were missed while Foran had a goal disallowed for offside as Rovers held out.