Derry City midfielder and talisman Barry McNamee scored a wonderful free kick to earn his side a draw
A WONDERFUL Barry McNamee free-kick earned Derry City a deserved point against Limerick last night at Maginn Park.
McNamee returned to the Candy Stripes’ starting line-up after a recent hamstring injury getting his sides second league point in the space of three days.
He fired home on 60 minutes give Limerick’s keeper no chance and the goal cancelled out Shane Duggan’s early first half strike.
The Candystripes made one change to their side which drew with Sligo Rovers, with McNamee returning for Ronan Curtis, who dropped to the bench.
Out of a recent possible 15 points in the league, Derry City have only picked up two, and also crashed out of the EA Sports.
Much of that has been put down to tragically losing their ‘Captaini Courageous’ Ryan McBride who died suddenly at his home in the Brandywell on Sunday, March 19.
But it is hoped that losing streak is now behind the team and two draw in recent games can help to turn around the team’s fortunes.
Limerick took the lead on 12 minutes after City lost possession to easy as Ben Doherty’s miss placed pass only found Duggan and the skipper made no mistake firing home from fully 20 yards.
City soaked up a lot of pressure for long periods of the first half and their only real effort came just before the half-hour mark but McNamee fired over.
Derry made a change at the break with Curtis replacing Mark Timlin and the change worked as the home side started to come more and more into the game.
Kenny Shiels’ side drew level on the hour as McNamee’s curling left footed free-kick on the edge box flew into Clarke’s bottom right hand corner.
Limerick went close twice after City’s leveller but Rodrigo Tosi went close on both occasions, but his efforts were kept out by Doherty.
Soon after Clarke had to make a tremendous save on 70 minutes when he tipped over Curtis’ 25 yard drive.
A super last ditch block by Tony Whitehead denied McNamee a winning goal, as his close range strike was charged down by the centre-back.
Next up for Derry is another home tie at Maginn Park, this time Friday, April 28, against St Pat’s Athletic (kick off 7.45 pm).
Derry City: G Doherty, McDermott, Barry, Jarvis, B Doherty; Schubert (Kennedy 76), Monaghan, Low, Timlin (Curtis HT); McNamee, Boyle.
Limerick: Clarke, Kelly, Williams, O’Conor, Lynch, Duggan, Tosi (Walsh 88), Whitehead, Robson, Mulhall (Clarke 69), Ogbene.
Referee: Mr Paul Tuite (Dublin).
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