Rory Patterson: late strike earn Derry replay.
Shamrock Rovers 1 Derry City 1
A late strike by Rory Patterson earned Derry City a deserved 1-1 draw with Shamrock Rovers in their FAI Cup semi-final at Tallagh Stadium in Dublin this afternoon.
It was no more than the Candystripes deserved who were denied a last gasp win by Rovers keeper Barry Murphy who saved brilliantly from Patrick McEleney in time added on.
Both sides will meet again in the replay at Brandywell on Tuesday night next.
Derry had the better of the chances in the first 45 minutes with Murphy being the busiest of the two keepers.
The Candystripes almost made the perfect start when, after only two minutes, Patrick McEleney played Michael Duffy through on goal but his effort was well saved by Murphy.
Duffy had another chance to put City in lead 20 minutes later when put through by Rory Patterson, but his weak shot was easily dealt with by the Rovers keeper.
Murphy was called into action again in the 37th minute when he capably dealt with a McEleney 20-yard free kick to keep the game scoreless at half-time.
Rovers started the brighter of the two in the second period without testing Gerard Doherty in the Derry goal.
City came more into the game as the half progressed and it was Duffy again who tested Murphy with a long range effort in the 64th minute.
Rovers went in front in the 78th minute when the Derry defence failed to deal with a low cross and Kelly’s low shot from 15 yards proved too powerful for Doherty who got his hands to the ball but was unable to prevent it crossing the line.
However, Rory Patterson with his fifth FAI Cup goal brought City level with four minutes left when his low header on the six yard line from a corner by Mark Timlin gave Murphy no chance – much to the delight of the travelling Derry support.
Shamrock Rovers: Barry Murphy, Conor Kenna, Simon Madden, Jason McGuinness, David O’Connor, Ryan Brennan (Kieran “Marty” Waters 75), Patrick Cregg, Ronan Finn, Stephen McPhail, Sean O’Connor (Gary McCabe 85), Karl Sheppard (Dean Kelly 63), Luke Byrne.
Unused substitutes: Craig Hyland, Ciaran Kilduff, Shane Robinson.
Derry City: Gerard Doherty, Aaron Barry, Dean Jarvis, Ryan McBride, Barry Molloy, Stephen Dooley (Mark Timlin 63), Michael Duffy, Philip Lowry, Patrick McEleney, Barry McNamee, Rory Patterson.
Unused substitutes: Ciaran Gallagher, Nathan Boyle, Ryan Curran, Sean Houston, Shane McEleney, Joshua Tracey.
Referee: Neil Doyle.
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