Shamrock Rovers finally ended their recent goal drought at Oriel Park last night, but their one goal was not enough to do more than earn a draw in a poor game.
Rovers played the neater football and controlled midfield for long periods but just did not have that touch in front of goals.
A draw was a good result for Dundalk, hit by injury and suspension.
Dundalk had the advantage of a strong breeze in the first half, but apart from a well-struck shot from about 30 yards from Colin Fortune, and another from Jumbo Brennan, which was spilled by goalkeeper Tony O'Dowd, scoring efforts were few and far between.
Rovers looked to be in the driving seat when they scored their first goal in five games in the 63rd minute when substitute Brendan Markey glanced a header to the Dundalk net on a corner kick taken by Billy Woods.
Dundalk, however, found an equaliser with another header, this time from Lee Thew in the 67th minute on a cross into the box by Tom McNulty.
From this until the end of the game neither side seemed to have the appetite to go forward and win outright.
DUNDALK: S Williams, Capper, Crawley, Gollogley, Brady, Fortune, Campbell, Thew, Ward, McNulty, Brennan. Sub: Dunne for Campbell (58 mins).
SHAMROCK ROVERS: O'Dowd, Britton, Palmer, Brazil, Whelan, Colwell, Tracey, Cousins, Sherlock, Murray, Woods. Subs: Markey for Sherlock (61 mins), Morrisroe for Murray (87 mins).
Referee: P McKeown (Dublin).
