In this SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division title race that nobody wants to win, Shelbourne extended their lead at the summit to four points despite winning just one of their last eight league games.
The scoreless draw suits neither team with Shels unable to take advantage of results elsewhere while Sligo's quest for fourth rests on whether Derry City win their FAI Cup semi-final next week.
This was one of the more entertaining stalemates with both goalkeepers making superb saves while John Martin rattled the post just before the interval.
Sligo will feel they should have won it but Kearns miraculously clawed Ollie Denham's header off the line and the Bit O’Red saw out the game comfortably as Shels grew in desperation towards the final whistle.
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Shelbourne’s title charge has been running on empty for weeks but they have not been punished and this remarkably is another good result in their quest for a first league crown since 2006.
The home side had struggled for wins and goals so Damien Duff decided it was time to take the direct approach towards Sean Boyd who nodded plenty of balls down to Harry Wood, Martin and Ali Coote.
The hosts did everything but score in the first half. Wood threaded a ball through the eye of a needle to Coote who had his effort smothered by Ed McGinty.
Sligo went up the other end immediately and brought the best out of Shelbourne stopper Kearns who made a super save with his feet to deny Luke Pearce from close range.
In the absence of Will Jarvis, Shels are still searching for that cutting edge. Wood was the architect again, setting up Martin who rattled the inside of the near post as the ball miraculously stayed out before the whistle sounded for the break.
Shelbourne looked much more of a goal threat tonight and they started the second half as they finished the first.
Boyd knocked a long ball down to Martin and the ball was worked wide to John O’Sullivan who found Boyd at the back post and he should have headed on target from inside the six-yard area.
Two of the best goalkeepers in the league were in top form and Denham must have thought he had put the Bit O’Red in front but his header was sensationally clawed off the line by Kearns.
It’s the time of year to start checking score updates and Tolka erupted with news of Derry and Shamrock Rovers both falling 2-0 behind.
Both sides were chasing a winner with Sligo looking to keep their European hopes alive while Shels needed to take advantage of scorelines elsewhere.
Will Fitzgerald’s first time effort from distance whistled by the post before Liam Burt spurned a glorious opportunity with his first touch seconds after coming on in the 70th minute.
Frustration and desperation was rife around Tolka in the closing stages as the hosts overhit several crosses in a frantic finish.
Shelbourne: Conor Kearns; Patrick Barrett, Shane Griffin, Kameron Ledwidge, Tyreke Wilson; Alistair Coote (Burt 70), Mark Coyle, John O'Sullivan (Caffrey 62), Harry Wood (Smith 82); Sean Boyd, John Martin (O'Brien 62).
Sligo Rovers: Edward McGinty; Ollie Denham, Reece Hutchinson, John Ross Wilson; Ellis Chapman, William Fitzgerald, Jack Henry Francis, Connor Malley, Niall Morahan, Simon Power (McDonagh 88); Luke Pearce ( Barlow 78).
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