Derry City 1 - 1 Cork City

Derry City and Cork City shared the spoils at the Brandywell on Friday night in a game that was devoid of action in the first half but packed with excitement in the second.

The game got off to a quick start when a Patrick McEleney effort was saved by Cork City keeper Mark McNulty after two minutes. The visitors responded immediately as a fizzing 20 yard strike from Cork captain Colin Healy was well held by Gerard Doherty. Minutes later, a Barry McNamee corner found Rory Patterson but his first time shot ricocheted out from the Cork rearguard.

It wasn't until the 26th minute that the next moment of note occurred. Shane Duggan received the ball 25 yards out and drove at the Derry defence before going down in the box. Referee Tomas Connolly promptly booked him for simulation which seemed harsh as he did seemed to genuinely lose his balance.

In the 42nd minute a neat piece of skill from the impressive Patrick McEleney allowed him a sight of goal but his shot was pulled just wide of Mark McNulty's post.

The second half, as has been common at the Brandywell this year, was a completely different kettle of fish. Declan Devine made a tactical substitution bringing on Michael Duffy to replace McCaffrey and dropping McNamee to left back.

In the 54th minute a tidy passage of play from the home side found Patrick McEleney and his first time shot crept narrowly wide. The McEleney's then combined for Derry's next chance. Patrick's corner in the 61st minute found the head of his brother Shane and he really should have done better than put it wide.

Derry Captain Kevin Deery then put Rory Patterson through one on one with the keeper but his touch just let him down at the crucial moment. Derry were laying siege to the Cork goal now and in the 71st minute they should have taken the lead. Michael Duffy received the ball on the left and his inch perfect cross found the head of Patrick McEleney who unbelievably headed wide from point blank range.

With 15 minutes remaining Duffy fed Patterson but again he dwelt on the ball too long and the chance was gone. Two minutes later Derry wasted another glorious chance when a Patterson free kick was fumbled by McNulty out to Duffy but he tamely passed it straight back to the grateful custodian.

Cork were riding their luck and amazingly against the run of play they took the lead. A hopeful punt forward was headed out as far as Daryl Horgan and he hit a 25 yard looping shot over the head of a despairing Doherty to give the Leesiders the advantage.

However the lead lasted only two minutes as John Dunleavy played a woeful backpass and in nipped Rory Patterson to rifle home the equaliser. Just before the end Barry McNamee had a shot cleared off the line as the home side went all out for the win but Cork held out for a point.

Declan Devine will be relieved after going behind so late but will also be wondering how his side weren't well out of sight by that stage. Tommy Dunne will rue not keeping hold of the lead but will be happier with a point than his counterpart after reviewing the game in its entirety.

Derry City: Gerard Doherty; Simon Madden, Shane McEleney, Ryan McBride (Michael Rafter 78), Dermot McCaffrey (Michael Duffy 46); Barry Molloy, Kevin Deery(c), Barry McNamee, Ruaidhri Higgins, Patrick McEleney; Rory Patterson.
Subs not used: James Gallagher, Josh Tracey, Conal Kelly, Ryan Curran, Stewart Greacen.

Booked: Ryan McBride, Shane McEleney, Kevin Deery.

Cork City: Mark McNulty; Neal Horgan, Darren Dennehy, Garry Buckley, Danny Murphy; John Dunleavy, Gearoid Morrissey, Colin Healy (c), Shane Duggan, Daryl Horgan; Danny Morrissey.

Subs not used: Kevin Burns, Ian Turner, Daryl Kavanagh, Adam Rundle, Kalen Spillane, Brian Lenihan, Stephen Kenny.

Booked: Shane Duggan.

Referee: Tomas Connolly.

Attendance: 1,200 (estimate).

ExtraTime.ie Man of the Match: Kevin Deery (Derry City).