Super-sub Dylan Watts powers Rovers to a point against APOEL

Super-sub Dylan Watts sprung off the bench to head home a late equaliser to secure a vital point for ten-man Shamrock Rovers in tonight's UEFA Conference League 1-1 draw with APOEL at Tallaght Stadium.

Following a hard-fought first half, where Stephen Bradley’s side hung on at times against the impressive Cypriot champions, the Hoops were then hit with a hammer blow five minutes into the second half as Neil Farrugia was sent off.

APOEL capitalised on the extra man almost immediately and looked to be cruising following Konstantinos Laifis 59th-minute opener.

However, the home side gambled in the final 20 minutes, emptying the bench and it eventually reaped its reward as Watts bagged the injury-time equaliser.

It was one-way traffic for the opening ten minutes as the visitors came to attack, and to do so with real style and substance as they ran at Rovers from either flank and through the middle, with Marquinhos and David Abagna looking lively from the off, with the former testing Leon Pohls inside the opening 60 seconds.

It took Rovers that entire time before they could make their first foray out of the half as Danny Mandroiu was sent flying down the wing, and while Johnny Kenny looked to have lost his marker on the edge of the box, the delivery was intercepted.

And it was Marquinhos again who conjured something out of nothing in a packed penalty area as he span and shot just beyond the far post in the 17th minute with APOEL again controlling the tempo of the entertaining encounter.

Direct from Rovers in the 22nd minute as Kenny went racing in behind the static APOEL defence, however, the referee appeared to play on as the striker was knocked off balance before snatching at a shot that flew high and wide.

More APOEL pressure led