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Derry City missed the chance to extend their lead in the race for potential European qualification after being held to a 0-0 draw by Shamrock Rovers.

Rovers goalkeeper Richard Brush produced a magnificent point-blank save to deny Michael Rafter in stoppage time as Derry almost won it.

If Sligo Rovers win the FAI Cup, a place in the Europa League is available for the fourth placed league finishers.

The Candystripes remain in fourth - three points ahead of Rovers.

The hosts dominated much of the opening period, but failed to test Brush in the Rovers goal, whilst Conor Powell and Karl Sheppard went close for the visitors.

Substitute Marc Griffin went close for the hosts in the 55th minute, but dragged his shot across the face of goal when he should have hit the target.

Rafter and Simon Madden were also guilty of missing the target when through on goal within 15 minutes of the restart.

Derry continued to press but were almost undone four minutes from time when Ronan Finn drove at the hosts' back four, but his powerful shot was tipped away by Gerard Doherty.

When the ball fell for Rafter in the fourth minute of stoppage time, the striker unleashed a fierce volley but Brush got down to deny the striker.

Declan Devine's men need four points from their final two games - away to St Patrick's Athletic and home to Limerick - if they are to secure fourth place and a vested interest in November's FAI Cup final.

Derry City: Doherty, Madden, S McEleney, Molloy, Jarvis, McDaid, P McEleney, Higgins, McNamee, Rafter, Curran.

Shamrock Rovers: Brush, Sullivan, Oman, Foran, Powell, Finn, Robinson, Ryan, Dennehy, McCabe, Sheppard.

Referee: Sean Grant (Wexford)