Better late than never for Derry

Linfield 1 Derry City 1

Tam McManus was Derry’s supersub with a late equaliser to earn Stephen Kenny’s side a point at Windsor Park.

Injury-hit Linfield, missing 10 players, drew first blood with the lead goal on 15 minutes.

Michael Carvill was given time and space to whip over a superb cross from the right flank and Paul Munster was unmarked to plant a firm header past Ger Doherty.

Derry blew a chance to level on 36 minutes when Alan Blayney made a brilliant save from ex-Blues’ striker Thomas Stewart’s penalty after Gareth McGlynn had been tripped by 17-year-old left-back Aaron Burns.

Blayney excelled again on 84 minutes with another good stop from McManus as Linfield looked like they would hold out for victory.

But Derry got their deserved leveller a minute later when McGlynn’s delightful chipped through ball put McManus in on goal to shoot past Blayney.