Determined Dundalk hold champions Shamrock Rovers on opening night

SSE Airtricity Premier Division

Shamrock Rovers (Greene 58’) 

Dundalk (Gullan 33’)

Reigning four-in-a-row Champions Shamrock Rovers kicked off their pursuit of a drive for five with a come-from-behind draw against a new look Dundalk side that look to have recruited well in the off-season.

A bumper crowd of 7,610 were on hand to watch a highly entertaining clash in which super-sub Aaron Greene rescued a point in a dominant Rovers performance, despite his side going in behind at the break thanks to the impressive James Gullan wonder strike.

The Lilywhites, with 11 new faces in the door at Oriel Park, faced one of the toughest locations to learn on the job as they made the trip to South Dublin and showed tremendous resilience to earn their first point of the new season.

Having dominated the opening period, the home side were dealt a massive blow when the desperately unlucky Neil Farrugia landed awkwardly on his shoulder following a powerful, striding run down the right wing, eventually requiring a stretcher to help him off the field.

The disruption seemed to benefit the away side when minutes later debutant Jamie Gullan put his side ahead with a stunning free-kick. Sean Hoare brought down Horgan in a dangerous position, 25-yards out slightly left to the goal and the former Raith Rovers man did the rest, whipping the ball over the wall past Pohls despite getting a hand to it.

The home side responded well, with the relentless Rory Gaffney causing problems with his clever runs in behind the Dundalk defence, but former Nottingham Forest goalkeeper George Shelvey remained relatively untested as the half wore on.

Stephen Bradley was cursing his luck when on the stroke of half-time Farrugia’s replacement, Trevor Clarke, was