Derry City 2 Limerick 1: Limerick were stunned at the Brandywell, Derry City pouncing very late to pull this game out of the fire.
Stuart Taylor’s side will feel hard done by having deservedly led at the break.
Limerick broke the deadlock in the 27th minute.
Shane Tracy whipped in a corner to the near post where centre-half Steve Folan’s glancing header found the net from close range.
Derry were denied an equaliser in the 34th minute thanks to the brilliance of Limerick goalkeeper Barry Ryan who saved Michael Rafter’s close-range shot.
Second best in the first half, Derry improved after the break and again Ryan saved Limerick in the 55th minute.
Rory Patterson latched onto a pass from Ryan McBride but in the one-on-one situation, the striker’s shot cannoned off the ’keeper’s leg.
Derry continued to huff and puff, but the lacked penetration.
However, with four minutes remaining the Candystripes were rewarded for their persistence when Mark Griffin turned sharply on a loose ball to drive a low shot to the net from 16 yards.
And, sensationally, in the 88th minute a shot from Patterson appeared to take a deflection giving the unlucky Ryan no chance as the Brandywell crowd erupted.
