Drogheda United will host Shamrock Rovers at United Park in Tuesday's FAI Ford Cup replay after captain Conor Kenna's second-half equalizer denied the home side a first win in the competition at Tallaght Stadium.

It's 22 years since Rovers last lifted the FAI Cup and they began this match like a side determined to put that run of form to an end, with winger Sean O'Connor shining early on and Stephen Bradley having a goal ruled out for a push by Darragh Maguire.

O'Connor in particular was at his dazzling best in the opening minutes and he latched on to Greg Cameron's cross-field ball after seven minutes to chip the advancing Paul Skinner and put the home side into the lead.

The winger almost doubled the lead soon after as neat interplay between Bradley and Gary Twigg on the edge of the box led to the former putting him through on goal, however he could only flick the ball wide under pressure.

2005 cup winners Drogheda struggled to find any attacking rhythm, apart from half chances for captain Conor Kenna and David O'Connor when Rovers briefly switched off from a corner kick mid-way through the half.

First Kenna denied Purcell's certain goal with a diving block after Twigg had put the goal at the mercy of the striker with a pull back and then Twigg himself was denied by Skinner's smart save.

Jamie Duffy went close for the visitors with an acrobatic bicycle kick minutes into the second period but the home side did not learn from the warning and just before the hour mark Drogheda silenced the home crowd with an equalizer.

Captain Kenna was the most alert man in the Rovers penalty area from a Robbie Clarke free kick and he headed beyond Duggan.

Defender Craig Sive was unlucky to see Robbie Clarke clear his goal bound header off the line from a corner as Rovers pushed for the wining goal but the game ended in disappointment for the home side, with substitute Pat Flynn seeing red in the final minutes.

Shamrock Rovers: R Duggan, I Bermingham, C Treacy, D Maguire (P Flynn 75), C Sives, S Bradley (S Robinson 71), S Rice, G Cameron, S O'Connor, G Twigg, T Purcell.

Not used: B Murphy, O Cahill, D Baker, P Flynn, P Amond.

Drogheda United: P Skinner, I Ryan, R Clarke, C Kenna (capt), P Shiels, P Crowley, J Chambers, D O'Connor, G Whelan, J Duffy, B King.

Not used: J Flanagan, M Sammon, M Foley, W Woods, E Osbourne, M Clarke.

Referee: D Tomney.