SHAMROCK ROVERS 1 PARTIZAN BELGRADE 1 - GARY McCABE's 81st minute equaliser gave Shamrock Rovers a share of the spoils in their UEFA Europa League play-off round first leg clash with Partizan Belgrade at Tallaght Stadium.

The former Irish futsal international produced a clever one-two with Gary Twigg in the Partizan box before finishing the move with a clinical toe-poked finish past visiting keeper Vladimir Stojkovic.

McCabe's goal ensures the Hoops will travel to Serbia next week with belief that they can still dig out an historic victory to become the first Irish side to reach the group stages of a major European competition.

The visitors had taken the lead through Newmanja Tomic in the 14th minute after the midfielder was left unmarked in the box following a burst down the right byb Vladimir Jovancic.

Hoops keeper Ryan Thompson also made a top class save to keep out a long range strike by Kovancic in the 22nd minute as the visitors looked to put the tie to bed early on.

Eventually Rovers settled down and McCabe had their first decent chance when he just failed to find the net in the 29th minute with a clever shot from outside the box.

Dan Murray had a header over from ten yards out after connecting with a Billy Dennehy corner as the home side ended the half with some momentum.

Jovancic should have wrapped the tie up in the 57th minute when he burst through on goal but Thompson saved well with his feet.

As the 4,750 home fans feared no goal would come, Pat Sullivan gave them hope with a decent header from a McCabe free-kick in the 64th minute that keeper Stojkovic was well placed to save.

With substitute Gary O'Neill and Ciaran Kilduff making their mark, McCabe made the vital contribution by firing the equaliser with nine minutes left.

Twigg could have nicked the victory two minutes later but he volleyed over from close range.

Rovers boss Michael O'Neill was proud of his side afterwards but knows that the trip to Belgrade next week will require a performance of a lifetime to see Rovers through.

SHAMROCK ROVERS: Thompson; Sullivan, SIves, Murray, Stevens, Rice (Kilduff 76), McCormack, Finn (Turner 46), McCabe, Twigg, Dennehy (O'Neill 59).

PARTIZAN BELGRADE: Stojković; Medo, Ranković, Stanković, Tomić, Eduardo (Babović 66), Ivanov, Jovančić (S Marković 94), Ilić (L Marković 85), Rnic, Smiljanić.

REFEREE: H Kaasik (EST).