Jack Doherty rescued a point for Cork City in Ballybofey as the they earned a share of the spoils from their trek to Finn Harps.
Doherty converted a hotly disputed penalty 20 minutes from the end to cancel out Success Edogun's first-half opener for Harps.
Tim Clancy is rebuilding the relegated Rebels but Doherty, who they managed to hold onto following their demotion, followed up his brace in an opening night 2-0 win over Kerry with a firmly dispatched spot kick.
Harps took the lead in the 17th minute when Edogun reacted quickest when Sean Murray sliced an attempted back-pass to his goalkeeper, Bradley Wade.
Edogun, a close-season signing from Treaty United, won the race and coolly finished to the River End net from 35 yards, his second goal in as many games.
In a first half where chances counted as low as the temperature, Tony McNamee shot over the top with an attempt that was always rising.
Patrick Ferry also cleared the Cork crossbar before the hosts had to absorb some pressure as City – who brought a good visiting support the length of the country – began to grow into the game.
A Harry Nevin shot from distance, routinely dealt with by Harps 'keeper Tim Hiemer, was as close as they came in the opening 45 minutes.
Evan McLaughlin was wide with an attempted acrobatic effort just before the hour, after Edogun had too much elevation when fed by McNamee down the other end.
Edogun went close again moments later. Ferry made the incision with a neat pass, but Edogun was unable to hit the target.
Cork drew level in the 70th minute, after Matty Makinson was penalised for a handball, and Doherty slammed past Tim Hiemer from the spot.
The big home crowd, buoyed clearly by a come-from-behind 3-2 win at Longford last weekend, howled their disapproval at the decision. So too did Harps coach Kevin McHugh, who was yellow carded for his contribution.
Captain McNamee had a free-kick beaten away for a corner by Wade at one end while Doherty curled over with a free at the other as both went in search of sneaking a win.
In the final minute, a Makinson's header was miraculously kept out and it ended all square.
Elsewhere in the division, Treaty United made it two wins from two with a well-earned 1-0 victory at UCD. Enda Curran's goal enough to take the points back to Limerick.
Athlone join Cork and Finn Harps in a share of second after sharing six goals at Cobh Ramblers.
Dean Ebbe and Dylan Hand gave the visitors a 2-0 half-time lead before, Nolan Evers pulled one back for Cobh seven minutes after the break.
Athlone thought they had secured the points as Aaron Connolly made it 3-1 in the 63rd minute, however two goals in eight minutes from Dale Holland and David Bosnjak earned a point for the home side.
Bray Wanderers got their season up and running with a come-from-behind 3-2 win at Kerry.
The home side were reduced to ten men in the 38th minute when Nathan Gleeson was sent off, before taking the lead in first-half injury time through Kevin Williams.
Peter Grogan levelled in the 71st minute to kick-start a crazy five minutes where three more goals would follow as Samuel Aladesanusi made it 2-1 to Kerry before Darren Craven and Cristian Magerusan turned the tie in Bray's favour.
Elsewhere, Wexford's clash with Longford was postponed.
Finn Harps: Tim Hiemer; Jamie Watson, Noe Baba, Matty Makinson. Shane McMonagle; Patrick Ferry (Mark Mbuli 68), Max Hutchison, David Cawley, Tony McNamee, Stephen Doherty (Darragh Coyle 83); Success Edogun.
Cork City: Bradley Wade; Niall Brookwell (Cathal O'Sullivan h-t), Cian Coleman, Charlie Lyons; Harry Nevin, Barry Coffey, Jack Doherty, Sean Murray, Evan McLaughlin (Jaden Umeh 76), John O'Donovan; Nathan Wood.
Referee: Marc Lynch.
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