FILIP PISZCZEK opened his account but Bohemians still had to settle for a share of the spoils.
In his eighth appearance for the club, the Polish striker got his first goal to give Bohs a deserved lead.
But Alan Reynolds’ side failed to take chances to extend their advantage and paid the price shortly before the break when Paddy Kirk inadvertently teed up Johnny Kenny for an equaliser.
They had a second penalty appeal turned down shortly after the restart but struggled to create anything of note.
Rovers improved but, ultimately, draw was probably a fair result.
Alan Reynolds’ first game in charge of Bohs was against Rovers in March in which they competed well before being outplayed in the second half as they succumbed to a 3-1 defeat.
Despite Jack Byrne and Neil Farrugia appearing off the bench, Rovers were still missing six players through injury, with Dylan Watts also limping off in the first half.
So this represented a better opportunity than most to get one over Stephen Bradley’s side.
And Bohs’ performance in the first 45 minutes here was even better than it had been in Tallaght so there was an element of frustration that they were going in level at the break.
The sides exchanged early chances with Adam McDonnell having a shot blocked and Kacper Chorazka making a good save to deny Aaron Greene.
The Gypsies then had two good chances to score from corners in quick succession. First, Josh Honohan headed over from under his own bar after Aboubacar Keita had got on the end of Dayle Rooney’s delivery.
And Rooney was again the supplier when Piszczek headed wide when he should have hit the target.
But the Pole did score midway through the half.
Dan Cleary passed the ball back to Leon Pohls whose clearance was headed back in his direction by Jordan Flores.
Oluwaesun Akitunde then teed up Piszczek who made no mistake with a fine finish.
Their advantage should have been increased but they fluffed two good opportunities and also had a cast-iron penalty appeal turned down.
Piszczek played through Rooney who tried to dink the ball into the net but his effort floated the wrong side of the post.
Then James Clarke – on for the injured Brian McManus – won the ball off to Conan Noonan.
His ball across was stopped by Piszczek but his shot was weak when Akintunde was in a better position.
Then the English striker went crashing to the ground when he was caught by the arm of Cleary – who had already been booked – as he attempted to get on the end of the cross but Damien MacGraith ignored the home side’s protests.
Piszczek also headed straight at Pohls from a Luke Matheson throw-in before Rovers equalised out of nowhere.
The visitors had looked threatening on the break without creating any real opportunities.
But, with three minutes before the break, they carved Bohs open. Greene crossed from the left and, in his attempt to stop his cross from reaching Darragh Burns, the isolated Paddy Kirk succeeded only in teeing up Johnny Kenny who did not need to be asked twice.
It could have gotten even worse for the hosts before the half-time whistle because, in stoppage time.
Cleary won a loose ball in midfield ahead of Flores and passed to Markus Poom whose shot was kept out by Chorazka’s legs.
Bohs had a second strong penalty appeal turned down soon after the restart after Rooney had picked out Clarke with a slide-rule pass.
He crossed into the box where Piszczek was waiting to pull the trigger but he could not get his shot off as Cleary clattered into him.
But Rovers were significantly better in the second half and, if there was to be a winner, it was the visitors who looked more likely to score the decisive goal.
Trevor Clarke went close while Farrugia and Byrne making their long-awaited return from injury for the final 11 minutes as they searched for a breakthrough.
There were some hairy moments in the Bohs defence in six minutes of stoppage time but they had two corners themselves at the death but could not produce a dramatic winner.
BOHEMIANS: 1 SHAMROCK ROVERS: 1
Piszczek 23 Kenny 42
SUN STAR MAN: James Clarke (Bohemians)
BOHEMIANS: Chorazka 7; Matheson 7, Mills 7, Keita 6, Kirk 6; Flores 6 (McDaid 76, 5), B McManus 6 (Clarke 10, 8); Akintunde (J McManus 76, 5) McDonnell 7, Akintunde 7; Piszczek 7 (Connolly 67, 6).
SHAMROCK ROVERS: Pohls 6; Cleary 6, Lopes 7, Honahan 7; Burns 6 (Kavanagh 83, 4) Noonan 6 (Byrne 79, 5), Watts 6 (Poom 34, 6), Clarke 7 (Farrugia 79, 5); Nugent 8, Kenny 7, Greene 7.
REFEREE: D MacGraith (Dublin) 5