A GOAL by Derry City's Gary Heaney IS minutes from time brought the curtain down on a quite forgettable FAI Cup first round replay at the Iveagh Grounds last night. It also secured a place for the Cup holders in this morning's second round draw.

The goal, when it came, proved, like the match, to be a scrappy affair. Two St James's Gate defenders got entangled going for Pascal Vaudequin's low cross from the right, and striker Heaney was first to pounce on the loose ball and sweep it past the advancing Stephen Henderson.

Up to that point the home side, whose 3-6-1 formation showed the limits of their ambition, had succeeded in frustrating the Premier division side. But from as early as the third minute, when midfielder Harry McCourt's shot shaved the left upright, Derry always looked the more likely to break the stalemate.

The home side's only real chance of causing an upset came after 26 minutes when Derry's goalkeeper Gerard Crossan had to dive at full length to gather skipper Paul Byrne's snap shot from the edge of the box.