Shamrock Rovers 1 Derry City 1:Shamrock Rovers lost more ground in the Premier Division race as they were held by Derry City in a pulsating game at Tolka Park on Saturday night.
Derry could face a sanction after they were late arriving at the ground. After both teams agreed to delay the game by 15 minutes the league's director, Fran Gavin, overruled that decision and the farcical situation arose of the home side lining out on the pitch for 10 minutes before Derry, with referee Alan Kelly, appeared.
Seán Hargan's sending-off in the second half was also a bone of contention, as two similar tackles had earlier been met with far more leniency.
"You can't have three identical tackles and three different outcomes, it's a disgrace," fumed Derry manager John Robertson.
Rovers fell behind on 50 minutes when Sammy Morrow scored his first goal for Derry.
Hargan's sending-off swayed things back in the hosts' favour, and Andy Myler levelled soon after.
SHAMROCK ROVERS: B Murphy; O'Brien, Danny O'Connor, Ferguson, Pender; Rowe, E McGill, D McGill, Cassidy; Purcell (Amond, 85), Myler.
DERRY CITY: Jennings; McCallion, Hutton, Oman, Hargan; Deery, Martyn, Higgins, McCourt (McGlynn, 74); McHugh (McChrystal, 60), Morrow (Harkin, 86).
Referee: A Kelly (Cork).
