Rafter rescues point for Derry

St Patrick’s Athletic 1 Derry City 1

Similar to their impressive victory over Sligo Rovers eight days ago, the hosts dominated from the opening whistle, with Kenny Browne going close in the 4th minute with a deft touch from Killian Brennan’s corner.

The high tempo was maintained, with Greg Bolger and Ian Bermingham especially prominent, and Ger O’Brien’s sortie from right-full in the 11th minute reflected the confidence of the home side.

Bolger and Conan Byrne were next to try their luck with long-range attempts that necessitated routine Gerard Doherty saves but there was little the goalkeeper could do as the Saints deservedly opened the scoring in the 21st minute.

The goal stemmed from an error from Simon Madden, who allowed Chris Forrester to gain possession and although his shot from 20 yards lacked venom, it fell kindly, via a deflection off John Russell, to Byrne who swept across Doherty from eight yards.

The Pat’s pressure was maintained, with Anthony Flood forcing an error from Ryan McBride in the 27th minute but his subsequent shot lacked composure, arrowing high and wide of Doherty’s goal.

The hosts were left to rue their profligacy as Derry levelled matters ten minutes later when Michael Rafter clinically found the net from eight yards, capitalising of defensive hesitancy by O’Brien and Browne when dealing with a Barry McNamee delivery.

Another McNamee centre within two minutes of the restart almost handed the visitors the lead but his fizzing corner eluded McBride’s despairing lunge at the far post, with a static home defence fortunate to escape without punishment.

The contest meandered for the ensuing 20 minutes with both sides lacking the quality to fashion a genuine opening in a nervy encounter. Forrester eventually illuminated the half with a powerful drive in the 72nd minute that whistled past Doherty’s right-hand upright.

The final ten minutes offered great excitement, with Ruaidhri Higgins negligent in heading a superb cross from Madden wide in the 84th minute while at the opposite end substitute Christy Fagan was twice denied by Doherty in the dying stages, confirming an equitable share of the spoils.

ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC: Ryan; O’Brien, Kenna, Browne, Bermingham; Byrne (Keegan, 83), Russell, Bolger, Brennan, Forrester; Flood (Fagan, 59).

DERRY CITY: Doherty; Madden, S McEleney, McBride, Crawley (McCaffrey, 54); P McEleney, Higgins, Molloy, McNamee; Patterson, Rafter (Houston, 73).

Referee: P Sutton (Clare)