Mullen grabs late point for 10-man Dundalk against Shamrock Rovers

Pico Lopes gave Rovers a 19th minute lead, and Dundalk had Vinnie Leonard sent off in the second half, but the Louth side found a way to earn a point against the champions

Rob Cornwall was close to forcing the ball over the line for Dundalk but Danny Mullen was credited with the equaliser against Shamrock Rovers. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

SSE Airtricity Premier Division: Shamrock Rovers 1 Dundalk 1

Stephen Bradley wasn’t being patronising when predicting newly-promoted Dundalk to avoid a relegation scrap and he saw the evidence first-hand at Tallaght.

His Shamrock Rovers side were heading for a second win in four days through Pico Lopes’ 19th-minute goal but despite losing Vinnie Leonard to a red card, Dundalk burgled a draw through substitute Danny Mullen.

They were probably worth the point given the vigour with which they stayed in the game against the champions, without really testing Ed McGinty until he buckled under a late corner by Bobby Burns.

Rob Cornwall, only on the pitch after Leonard's dismissal, was close to forcing the ball over the line but it was credited to Mullen, fresh from his goal on Friday.

Football was a welcome relief after both clubs found themselves in the headlines over the weekend for off-field matters.

Dundalk were left counting the cost of repairing their new pitch after a barrage of flares before Friday’s Louth derby while Rovers were contending with a barrage of attention over their dealings with Michael Noonan’s agent.

The teen was one of eight newcomers Bradley drafted into his side from Friday’s 2-0 win over St Patrick’s Athletic.

Noonan came off the bench to break the deadlock and despite Rovers seeing their first two games fall victim to the weather, their boss felt rotation was essential.

After Lopes had headed home Jack Byrne’s inswinging free-kick, Noonan might have added a second. He was released by Matt Healy, only for Conor Kearns to dive at his feet as he tried to round the on-loan stopper.

Dundalk boss Ciarán Kilduff was confronted with the same fatigue challenge 72 hours after coming within moments of conquering Drogheda.

The difference he has compared to his former club is depth and so five changes was the furthest he was prepared to stretch for renewal.

That does tell when the game is in the balance, as this was, and Rovers can make alterations without changing formation or compromising quality.

Dundalk might have diluted theirs but still displayed sufficient grit to punish a Rovers side unable to make their territorial dominance reflect in a second goal.

They left Tallaght knowing that performances of this calibre will yield results from inferior sides to the champions but also regret at squandering a clearcut opening to equalise 10 minutes into the second half.

The scorer in their first game at Derry will rue not adding Tallaght to the list of conquests when he was presented with two openings to beat Ed McGinty.

Declan McDaid’s right-wing cross fell perfectly for the striker to direct his header from eight yard. Although the presence of Adam Matthews caught him off-balance, he was able to react to the loose ball but could only slice it high and wide.

If that was scrappy, it was a precursor to a scramble that resulted in the leveller as the regulation time ran out.

All the more admirable was them corralling Rovers when they spent the last 14 minutes, plus stoppage time, chasing the game with 10 players.

Leonard, like his fellow star from the U17 World Cup Noonan, is tipped for a long career but he was schooled by veteran Aaron Greene to incur his first senior red card.

The 17-year-old, who will join Norwich City for €400,000 in July after completing his Leaving Cert, was already on a booking when six minutes later he hauled down the Rovers sub as he was about to break clear.

Greene’s fellow entrant Adam Brennan was again lively for the hosts but couldn’t angle his shot beyond Kearns after one of his trademark jinking cutbacks.

Then Healy’s wayward clearance over his goal offered a reprieve for Dundalk, one they capitalised on by claiming their third successive draw since returning to the top flight.

SHAMROCK ROVERS: E McGinty; A Matthews, R Lopes, L Grace; T Sobowale, C Malley (D Watts 66), M Healy, T Clarke (A Brennan 66); J Byrne (V Ozhianvuna 75), G Burke; M Noonan (J Mulraney 75).

DUNDALK: C Kearns; JR Wilson, H Warren, V Leonard, T Wilson; A Dervin (R Cornwall 79), H Groome (K Buckley 58); D McDaid (B Burns 69), R Teahan (E Kenny 69), D Horgan; G Arubi (D Mullen 58).

Referee: Aaron O’Dowd (Dublin) 

Attendance: 4,352.