A goal in the last minute by Danny Mullen gave 10-man Dundalk a share of the spoils away to champions Shamrock Rovers in their rearranged Premier Division tie in Tallaght, their third straight draw, but the most satisfying of the lot.
The game was slated to be the season opener, but bad weather saw it postponed and with Rovers one up courtesy of a Roberto Lopez header in the 19th minute, victory looked assured especially after Dundalk defender Vinnie Leonard shown a straight red card in the 76th minute.
But full credit must go to the visitors who refused to bend and snatched a goal in the last minute as Rob Burns' corner was bundled to the net by Danny Mullen to spark huge celebrations in the travelling support in the East Stand.
It was no more than the Lilywhites deserved in a game that saw both sides make multiple changes to their starting eleven from their respective Friday night games
Rovers new signing Tunmise Sobowale, who made the move from St Mirren to Tallaght last week, made his debut in one of eight changes from the win over St Pat’s with former Irish internationals Jack Byrne and Graham Burke also included
Dundalk also made wholesale adjustments from their draw with former Rovers players Keith Buckley and Rob Cornwall having to be content with a place on the bench having started the game at Oriel Park.
The visitors started the game briskly, asking questions of the Hoops defence with Declan McDaid providing the first shot on target in the opening minutes, an effort smothered by home keeper Ed McGinty.
But Rovers settled, forcing a number of corners before taking the lead in the 19th minute as Byrne played in a peach of free which Lopez directed his header beyond the grasp of the diving Conor Kearns in the Dundalk goal.
Rovers almost got a second five minutes later as a sumptuous ball from Matt Healy to find Michael Noonan who arrowed in on goal, only to be denied by Kearns who saved well at the feet of the teenage striker.
Graham Burke was clearly enjoying his opening half with some deft turns and passes but he will wonder how he didn’t score Rovers second on 38 minutes.
A Byrne corner was headed on to the former Irish International who wasn’t aware of it, hitting the side of his head close to the line before looping over the crossbar.
Dundalk, First Division champions last season, begun to impose themselves on the home side in the early stages of the second period
Ciaran Kilduff’s side created the first opportunity after the resumption with striker Gbemi Arubi showing good strength to hold off Lee Grace before crossing to Ronan Teahan whose toe-poke wasn’t strong enough to beat McGinty.
Arubi headed wide from close range and captain Daryl Horgan flashed a free-kick wide as Dundalk pressed for the equaliser, but their cause wasn’t helped by the sending off of Leonard who was dismissed for pulling back Hoops substitute Aaron Greene.
Referee Aaron O’Dowd deemed that the Republic of Ireland Under-17 international, who will sign for Norwich City for an undisclosed fee in the summer, was the last man back and showed the teenager a straight red.
Numerically disadvanted, Dundalk were forced to defend and sub-Adam Brennan was denied on two occasions by Kearns as Rovers pressed for the insurance goal which never came.
But that was the prelude to the Dundalk equaliser as Matt Healy headed over his own crossbar in the 89th minute leading to a corner which Burns took and Mullen converted from inside the Rovers area, and on balance, a point was probably what the Lilywhites deserved
Shamrock Rovers: Ed McGinty; Adam Mathews, Roberto Lopes, Lee Grace; Olunatunmise Sobowale, Matt Healy, Jack Byrne (Jake Mulraney 75) Connor Malley (Dylan Watts 65), Trevor Clarke (Adam Brennan 65); Graham Burke (Victor Ozhianvuna 75) ; Michael Noonan (Aaron Greene 75)
Dundalk: Conor Kearns; John Ross Wilson, Harvey Warren, Vincent Leonard Tyreke Wilson; Declan McDaid (Eoin Kenny 69), Harry Groome (Keith Buckley 58); Daryl Horgan, Aodh Dervin (Robert Cornwall 78) , Ronan Teehan (Robert Burns 69), Gbemi Arubi (Danny Mullen 58).
Referee: Aaron O’Dowd
Attendance: 4352
