Report: Shamrock Rovers 1-1 Dundalk

Dundalk secured a well deserved point at Tallaght Stadium on Monday night when Danny Mullen scored a dramatic equaliser in the 90th minute. A performance full of character and energy, Dundalk weathered the storm and adapted to being reduced to ten men for the final 15 minutes after Vinnie Leonard was shown a red card. 

Dundalk made five changes from the team that drew against Drogheda United with Harvey Warren, Tyreke Wilson, Harry Groome, Ronan Teahan and Declan McDaid coming into the team. 

Dundalk started brightly for the first ten minutes, and Lee Grace made a crucial intervention from Tyreke Wilson’s low cross with Gbemi Arubi racing in behind. However, it was the hosts that broke the deadlock when Roberto Lopes headed home from Jack Byrne’s corner.

Dundalk ended the first half strongly, and McGinty was forced into a good save from a powerful Horgan effort. In the second half, Dundalk went closest to a goal when Arubi went within inches of of converting McDaid’s cross. It seemed like Dundalk’s hopes were over after Leonard was sent off for pulling back Aaron Greene, but despite being down to ten men Dundalk kept on the front foot. 

Then came the goal that Dundalk had been threatening. Bobby Burns delivered a vicious in-swinging corner that caused bedlam in the Rovers box. After McGinty failed to gather, Mullen somehow managed to hook the ball to the net.

Shamrock Rovers: McGinty; Matthews, Lopes, Grace; Sobowale, Healy, Malley (Watts, 66), Byrne (Mulraney, 75), Clarke (Brennan, 66); Burke (Ozhianvuna, 75); Noonan (Greene, 75).

Dundalk: Kearns; JR Wilson, T Wilson, Warren, Leonard, Groome (Buckley, 58), Dervin (Cornwall, 78); McDaid (Kenny, 69), Teahan (Burns, 69), Horgan; Arubi (Mullen, 58).

Referee: Aaron O’Dowd (Dublin).

Attendance: 4,352.