Soccer

Richie Towell’s late equaliser rescues a point for Dundalk

Deflected effort from striker denies Derry in a rip-roaring clash at the Brandywell

Derry’s Barry McNamee is congratulated after scoring against Dundalk at the Brandywell. Photo: Lorcan Doherty/Inpho
Derry’s Barry McNamee is congratulated after scoring against Dundalk at the Brandywell. Photo: Lorcan Doherty/Inpho
Fri Jun 27 2014 - 22:40

Derry City 2 (BMcNamee 45, M Duffy 51)

Dundalk 2 (K Byrne 44, R Towell 90)

Derry City were denied what would have been a sensational victory over Dundalk last night, a deflected Richie Towell shot in the 93rd minute keeping his side on top of the table, two points clear of Cork City.

Peter Hutton’s Derry produced their best performance of the season to date. They played the final 20 minutes with just 10 men following the sending off of captain, Cliff Byrne, for an off the ball incident.

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In what was an all-action affair, Dundalk’s Daryl Horgan and Dane Massey went close during the opening quarter.

Derry’s Rory Patterson had the ball in the net after 25 minutes but his effort was ruled offside. Dundalk bounced back immediately with Richie Towell shooting narrowly wide.

Dundalk’s persistence finally paid off in the 43rd minute but Stephen Kenny’s men got the rub of the green. The ball was played over the home defence and while Kurtis Byrne was clearly in an offside position, it came off the heel of Barry Molloy to play him in and the Dundalk striker gave Ger Doherty no chance from close range.

But Derry es struck back almost immediately.

The hard-working Barry McNamee having won the ball, side-stepped two challenges before poking a fine finish past Peter Cherrie.

And the home side stunned Dundalk when they moved into the driving seat in the 51st minute following an absolutely superb strike from 35 yards.

McNamee picked up possession in the centre of the park before finding teenager, Michael Duffy in space and the youngster let fly, the ball flying into the top corner of the net.

The home side’s cause was not helped in the 70th minute when Byrne was sent off following was was an off-the-ball challenge on Dundalk substitute Patrick Hoban.

Derry still looked like holding on and were devastated when Towell pounced to spare the league leaders’ blushes.

DERRY CITY: Doherty; Jarvis, Byrne, McBride, B; Molloy, B. McNamee; Timlin, P McEleney (S. McEleney, 76), Duffy; Patterson (Boyle, 90).

DUNDALK: Cherrie; Gannon, Boyle, Gartland, Massey; Meenan, Towell, Sheils (Higgins, 73), Horgan (Griffin, 54); Mountney (Hoban), Byrne.

Referee: Rob Rogers (Dublin).