Substitute Aaron Greene rescued a share of the spoils for Shamrock Rovers at Tallaght Stadium after Dundalk threatened to put a dent in their five in-a-row bid at the first hurdle.
Stephen O'Donnell’s side, starting with five debutants from their 11 close-season signings, came into this fixture priced at 11/1 to win but they threatened to upset the odds when Jamie Gullan crashed a stunning free-kick past Leon Pohls in the 33rd minute.
Stephen Bradley’s side were lucky not to go two down when Ryan O’Kane hit the inside of the post with a header on 57 minutes and that was to prove a crucial moment as Greene popped up with an equaliser two minutes later for what was his eighth career goal against the Lilywhites.
While a draw was not the start the champions would have wanted as they aim to clinch a fifth league title on the bounce, it is the same result as they had on the opening day of last season when they drew 1-1 with Sligo Rovers.
For the visitors, after a winter of change on and off the field with new owner Brian Ainscough watching on, this was an encouraging start and something they can build on ahead of their first home league match against Galway United next week.
Rovers, who waited until matchday seven to claim a first victory last season, will be aiming to make it second time lucky away to Shelbourne.
A superb debut goal from a free-kick by striker Jamie Gullan has Dundalk 1-0 up at reigning champions Shamrock Rovers #LOI
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) February 16, 2024
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While the home side dominated possession in the early stages, it was Dundalk who were first to threaten on the quarter-hour mark when Daryl Horgan had a go from range but the Republic of Ireland international’s effort was straight at Pohls.
Rovers then lost Neil Farrugia to injury six minutes later after he went down under a challenge from Zak Bradshaw at the right hand corner of the area which saw the on loan Lincoln City man pick up a booking despite replays showing he had won the ball.
Farrugia's replacement, Trevor Clarke, would also make way for Darragh Nugent in first-half stoppage time.
After a nine-minute stoppage while Farrugia was stretchered off, Markus Poom did force debutant goalkeeper George Shelvey to punch clear but that was about as near to a shot that the champions managed in the first half.
Dundalk had rocked Tallaght by taking the lead on 33 minutes with Gullan curling a free-kick past Pohls after Horgan had been fouled by Sean Hoare.
After seeing another effort in stoppage time spin over off the wall, the Louth men almost doubled their lead when Robbie Benson’s corner came off Hoare but the home side managed to scramble clear before the ball could cross the line.
Rovers went close to an equaliser within five minutes of the restart with Josh Honohan, who scored in the previous week’s President’s Cup win over St Patrick’s Athletic, heading just wide after getting on the end of Conan Noonan’s free-kick from the right.
The visitors then had another let-off on 54 minutes when Sean Kavanagh’s cross from the left picked out Darragh Burns unmarked 10 yards out but the on-loan MK Dons player could only glance wide with just Shelvey to beat.
The Louth men were unlucky not to double their advantage three minutes later when Horgan’s cross from the right picked out Ryan O’Kane, whose header beat Pohls only to come back off the inside of the post.
Just after Dundalk hit the woodwork at the other end, Shamrock Rovers have made it 1-1 through Aaron Greene #loi
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) February 16, 2024
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That was to prove a big moment as Rovers levelled matters on 59 minutes with Noonan’s free-kick being steered to the net at the near post by the inrushing Greene.
The home side then began to pile on the pressure with Gary O’Neill having an effort deflect over off Andy Boyle before Hoare headed wide at the near post from the resultant corner.
Burns then had another good chance on 75 minutes after a neat exchange with Rory Gaffney but he couldn’t hit the target for a tight angle.
Dundalk did manage a rare break with three minutes to go but in the end Archie Davies fired well over while a minute from time Dylan Watts' corner was met by the head of Hoare but he steered his header to the left and wide.
Loanee Scott High then scuffed wide in stoppage time for the visitors who were full value for their point.
Shamrock Rovers: Leon Pohls, Daniel Cleary, Sean Hoare, Josh Honohan; Neil Farrugia (Trevor Clarke 30) (Darragh Nugent 45+8), Markus Poom (Aaron Greene HT), Gary O’Neill, Sean Kavanagh; Conan Noonan (Dylan Watts 61), Darragh Burns; Rory Gaffney.
Dundalk: George Shelvey; Archie Davies, Mayowa Animasahun, Andy Boyle, Jamie Walker; Daryl Horgan (Sam Durrant 78), Scott High, Zak Bradshaw (Paul Doyle 69), Robbie Benson (Robbie Mahon 83), Ryan O’Kane (Hayden Muller 83); Jamie Gullan (Cameron Elliott 69).
Referee: Rob Hennessy (Limerick).
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