LOI Report: Derry City 2 - 2 Dundalk

Dundalk rescued what could prove to be a crucial point in the title race with a 95^th minute Richie Towell equaliser at the Brandywell on Friday night.

Kurtis Byrne had put the Lilywhites ahead at the end of the first half but Barry McNamee hit back instantly before a Michael Duffy wonder goal put Derry ahead before Towell swept home deep into injury time.

After the two week break, it did take some time to dust down some of the cobwebs with both a little lethargic in the opening period.

Dane Massey did very well for Dundalk to divert a perfectly-placed McNamee cross in the six-yard box out of danger before Brian Gartland blocked from a Michael Duffy stinger.

Recently-crowned Soccer Writers Association of Ireland Player of the Month Daryl Horgan drifted in from his position on the left and fired over the top.

It was 16 minutes before the best chance presented itself for Massey when he should have did so much better after meeting Darren Meenan’s free kick with a free header that shaved the crossbar.

Ten minutes later, Derry City looked unfortunate not to be ahead when Rory Patterson executed a lob so sublime it would have looked in good company among the best in Brazil at the moment with the only thing to deny it being the offside flag.

Richie Towell curled one just wide of the post and one straight into Ger Doherty’s arms either side of a wild Patrick McEleney free kick that

In what had been a largely uneventful first half, it exploded to life with two goals at each end in the space of 60 seconds to end it.

Firstly, Byrne benefitted from a touch off Molloy on a Towell pass which meant, despite being in an offside position, he was no longer infringing with the rules of the game and he took full advantage to prod past Doherty low to his left.

That lead lasted less than a minute as McNamee won the ball in midfield, drove at the defence and swiftly slammed the ball past Cherrie.

Without having had a previous save to make, he was picking the ball out of the back of the net for a second time six minutes after the restart with a magnificent effort from distance that sailed into the top corner and stun the league leaders.

The visitors’ response was not instant with a Meenan shot into the arms of Doherty not signalling the start of any real sustained pressure and the Candystripes continued to look a serious threat going forward.

With 20 minutes to go, things began to dramatic. First Marc Griffin spurned a good chance when he got on to a slack back pass and fired the ball into the stanchion when one on one before Cliff Byrne was given his marching orders for an off the ball incident with Dundalk striker Patrick Hoban.

There were no fears of any biting in this scenario, Hoban signalling it was a flailing elbow to his face, something the referee’s assistant brought to his attention and he reduced the Foylesiders to 10.

Byrne flashed a volley over for the Town as they chased an equaliser and Andy Boyle headed into the arms of the goalkeeper before in the 95^th minute, Dundalk levelled.

Higgins swept a glorious pass to the right that Meenan showed great eagerness to keep alive and he raced down the line and cut back for Towell whose shot was deflected to the back of the net.

Derry City: Ger Doherty; Dean Jarvis, Cliff Byrne (c), Ryan McBride, Aaron Barry; Barry Molloy; Mark Timlin, Patrick McEleney (Shane McEleney 77), Barry McNamee, Michael Duffy; Rory Patterson. (Nathan Boyle 93).
Subs not used: Joshua Tracey, Tony McNamee, Cormac Burke, Ryan Curran, Ciaran Gallagher (GK).

Booked: 

Dundalk: Peter Cherrie; Sean Gannon, Brian Gartland, Andy Boyle (C), Dane Massey; Chris Shields (Ruaidhri Higgins 74), Richie Towell; Darren Meenan, John Mountney (Patrick Hoban 69), Daryl Horgan (Marc Griffin 55); Kurtis Byrne.
Subs not used: Simon Kelly, Ciaran O’Connor, Georgie Poynton, Gabriel Sava (GK).

Booked: 

Referee: Robert Rogers

Attendance: Unknown.

Extratime Man of the Match: Barry McNamee (Derry City)