Ciaran Clark's own goal cancels out Wes Hoolahan's opener as Republic of Ireland start their Euro 2016 campaign with a draw against Sweden at the Stade de France.

The Republic of Ireland have begun their Euro 2016 campaign with a 1-1 draw against Sweden at the Stade de France this afternoon.

Wes Hoolahan gave his side the lead in the early stages of the second half in Paris, but a Ciaran Clark own goal with less than 20 minutes remaining ensured that the spoils were shared.

Ireland's defender Ciaran Clark (bottom R) lies on the ground after scoring an own goal beside Sweden's midfielder Sebastian Larsson (bottom L) and Ireland's goalkeeper Darren Randolph (L) during the Euro 2016 Group E football match between Ireland and Sw © AFP

Ireland went into the match having lost their last four games at European Championships - the worst run of any Euro 2016 finalists - but they enjoyed the better of things in the opening period and had the first shot on goal after nine minutes.

It was Jeff Hendrick who provided it, latching on to a Jonathan Walters knockdown just outside the box before driving a powerful first-time half-volley towards goal that Andreas Isaksson was forced to parry wide.

The best chance of the first half fell to John O'Shea, though, with the Ireland skipper misjudging Clark's flick-on at the far post and failing to connect with the ball when he had the goal gaping in front of him.

Sweden continued to edge the possession, but they rarely threatened going forward and star player Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who had scored in each of Sweden's last three opening game at the European Championships, was forced to drop deeper and deeper to get involved.

Sweden's forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic gestures at the end of the Euro 2016 group E football match between Ireland and Sweden at the Stade de France stadium in Saint-Denis, near Paris, on June 13, 2016 © AFP

It was Ireland who continued to create the best chances, though, and Robbie Brady lashed one powerful strike narrowly over shortly before the half-hour mark.

The closest they came to an opening goal in the first half arrived shortly afterwards as the ball was teed up for Hendrick following a slick team move, but his curling 25-yard effort came back off the crossbar with Isaksson beaten.

Sweden's only hint of a chance in the opening 45 minutes arrived when Ibrahimovic volleyed a difficult one over the top under heavy pressure from two Ireland defenders, before Walters and Shane Long were both agonisingly short of converting a teasing Brady cross.

Martin O'Neill's side were unable to find the breakthrough before half time, but they began the second half quickly and almost broke the deadlock inside one minute of the restart when Hendrick's low drive forced another stop from Isaksson.

They were finally ahead within a couple of minutes, though, as Seamus Coleman cut inside his man from the right flank before cutting a ball back into the middle that Hoolahan met with a well-controlled half-volley into the bottom corner.

Ireland's midfielder Wesley Hoolahan celebrates after scoring a goal during the Euro 2016 Group E football match between Ireland and Sweden at the Stade de France stadium in Saint-Denis on June 13, 2016 © AFP

That goal suddenly sparked Sweden into life, though, and Ireland were forced to weather a storm immediately afterwards as Darren Randolph reacted to push the ball away after a corner had hit a green shirt and almost snuck in, while Emil Forsberg planted the rebound well wide when he should have scored.

It took some last-ditch defending for Ireland to keep Sweden at bay as Erik Hamren's side laid siege to their box over the following five minutes, but Ireland soon settled back into the game.

Ibrahimovic, looking to become the first player to ever score in four separate European Championships, finally had his first good chance on the hour mark when he managed to hook an unorthodox volley goalwards, but his effort flashed narrowly past the post.

Ibrahimovic was heavily involved when the Sweden equaliser finally arrived, but there was an element of fortune about the goal too as Clark turned the ball into his own net when trying to deal with the Swedish skipper's low cross.

Sweden's players celebrate after Ireland scored an own goal during the Euro 2016 group E football match between Ireland and Sweden at the Stade de France stadium in Saint-Denis on June 13, 2016 © AFP

Ireland responded well to that goal, though, and almost regained the lead immediately when the ball broke to Hendrick inside the area, but he was denied from a tight angle by Isaksson.

It was Sweden who looked most like scoring a winner in the closing stages of the contest, though, and Ibrahimovic was inches away from flicking in a low Martin Olsson cross with just eight minutes remaining.

Ireland were able to hold out as they avoided defeat in a European Championships match for the first time since 1988, and they will now turn their focus to a meeting with Belgium on Saturday.

Sweden, meanwhile, have still never lost in seven competitive meetings with Ireland and will take on Italy on Friday.