Barry McNamee’s strike with 25 mnutes to go earned Derry a 1-1 draw
A second half goal from Barry McNamee gave Derry a well earned point away to Dundalk this evening.
Before the game Candystripes manager Kenny Shiels was downplaying the prospect of a win against the league leaders at Oriel Park.
So Shiels will be the happier of the two Kennys – his opposite number at Dundalk Stephen Kenny watched his team drop two points at home.
It was a scintillating encounter played out in front of the RTE cameras!
Both sides ended with 10 on the field but Dundalk took the lead through David McMillan early in the first half however Barry McNamee’s equaliser with 25 left on the watch ensured that both sides left with a share of the spoils
Dundalk started dominantly and were 1-0 up after just four minutes when a controlled move started at the back with Brian Gartland found its way left to Dane Massey further up the pitch and his reverse pass was played to Ronan Finn and he threaded the perfect ball to David McMillan who instinctively turned and shot to the bottom right hand corner.
Dane Massey shot a free-kick straight at the wall before Horgan dragged a shot wide from 30 yards after a neat layoff from Darren Meenan.
Meenan’s dangerous cross was just out of the reach of Gartland before Horgan took out four players in one turn but his cross was into the arms of Doherty.
Finn then had a chance but his deft touch was gathered by the goalkeeper after a nice clipped ball from Horgan in behind.
The game was scrappy enough and the only chance of note that the visitors had in the opening period was a long range effort from Barry McNamee but it was high and wide of the goal.
The second half got underway and Derry were given a helping hand in the opening 10 minutes when two bookings in quick succession meant Chris Shields was dismissed by referee Padraigh Sutton who brandished the red card.
That gave the Candystripes the initiative and they found an equaliser with 25 minutes remaining. A breakaway from McEneff found Rory Patterson and his right footed effort struck the right hand post of Gary Rogers however the rebound fell to McNamee and he rolled the ball to the empty net.
Dundalk upped their game a little and Finn’s knockdown was just into the arms of Doherty.
The teams were numerically level on 75 minutes when local man Conor McCormack, lining out for Derry City, upended Finn and received his second booking – and his third straight red card against Dundalk.
The introduction of Patrick McEleney had the desired effect however his curling effort was straight at the goalkeeper from 20 yards.
Captain Stephen O’Donnell looked to have scored when a wonderful floated ball into the box from Andy Boyle found his head but his goalbound effort was expertly tipped away by Doherty.
That proved to be the final action of note as the referee blew the full-time whistle to end a pulsating game at Oriel Park,
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