Derry City - 1 Shamrock Rovers - 1 Shamrock Rovers substitute Tony Grant denied Derry City a first home win in this year's Premier Division when he scored a late equaliser in a splendid game at the Brandywell last night.

Gareth McGlynn had given the home side high hopes after 56 minutes and they hung onto the advantage for a further half hour before Grant's strike just six minutes from full time.

Rovers had created the early pressure, their best chance in that peried coming on 20 minutes, when Trevor Molloy's shot from close range was blocked by Eamon Doherty. And the Derry goalkeeper, Alan Gough, did brilliantly to keep out a Molloy bullet some five minutes later.

Derry, meanwhile, were also probing for openings, and Rovers goalkeeper Tony O'Dowd had to save from a lively Mark Farren, while just after the half-hour mark Gary Becket almost got on the end of an Eddie McCallion cross.

Derry ought to have taken the lead a few minutes later when y Beckett put Farren in the clear. But though Farren rounded O'Dowd, his right-footed shot shaved the outside of the post.

And shortly before the break, Farren got on the end of another chance, O'Dowd forced into a great save from his close-range header.

Pat Deans came close for Rovers seven minutes into the second half, but his headed effort from a Molloy free went just over the bar.

Derry finally broke the stalemate when Gary Beckett raced down the right and timed his pass beautifully for McGlynn to collect at full tilt before unleashing a powerful shot that substitute goalkeeper Shane Davoran could only deflect slightly as it sped to the net.

Derry almost got another when Billy Clery put Beckett through, but he pulled his shot just inches wide of the target.

Derry now had a notable victory almost in their grasp, but their night was ruined in the 87th minute when Rovers substitute James Keddy posted in cross from the left which the City defenders failed to deal with, whereupon Keddy's fellow substitute Grant pounced, turned and fired a low shot into the net.

DERRY CITY: Gough, McCallion, Hargan, Simms (Clery 29), McLaughlin, Doherty, Martyn, Hedderman, Beckett, Farrenj (Holt 85), McGlynn.

SHAMROCK ROVERS: O'Dowd (Davoran 46), Gough, Doyle, Colwell, Palmer, Deans, (Keddy 82), Robinson, Fitzpatrick, Molloy, Tracey, S Grant (T Grant 75).

Referee: John Feighery (Dublin).