Shamrock Rovers boss Stephen Bradley felt a draw was the fairest result as his side opened up their SSE Airtricity League title defence by sharing the spoils with St Patrick's Athletic.
The defending champions needed the late intervention of Aaron Greene, whose 89th minute header rescued a point in the eventual 1-1 draw, two minutes after Robbie Benson's ball across deflected in via Roberto Lopes to hand their Dublin rivals the lead.
Speaking to RTÉ Sport's Tony O'Donoghue at full-time, Bradley said it was an even game in his view and that he had expected a tough battle.
"Everyone's going to come and play like Pat's in terms of everyone coming and having a go off us and we've got to be ready for that," he said.
"I thought in large spells tonight, we were. We maybe could have been more clinical in the final third but we weren't and I think a point in the end was the fair result."
Just after St Pat's took the lead late on, Shamrock Rovers fashioned an equaliser thanks to this brilliant header from Aaron Greene @RTE2 @RTEplayer #rtesoccer
— Soccer Republic (@SoccRepublic) March 19, 2021
Updates: https://t.co/b58OttCBr9 pic.twitter.com/hQLq4Pp6PT
On Greene's goal, he added: "Fantastic header. It was put in a good area but it was a great header. He had a lot to do. He had to generate the pace and power on the ball himself, so fantastic header."
However, he expressed disappointment at the goal his side conceded.
"I was really disappointed with the lead-up to it more than anything. We were sloppy and not pressing and we got punished and then Roberto was recovering and it just hit him - it's one of them things and not much you can do about that," he said.
There were mixed emotions for the man of the match, St Pat's Lee Desmond, who was disappointed that his side did not hang on to their late lead.
He said: "I have to say it was probably the most positive [I've been] and the most belief coming up here for the first time since probably 2015, so it's disappointing not to win.
"Maybe it'll be a good point but at the minute, it just feels like we should have won the game."
