Derry City... 1 Shamrock Rovers... 1: Dermot Keely went close to his first defeat as Derry City manager at the Brandywell last night, but he will point to the involvement of his all-time favourite player in saving his blushes.
Striker Liam Coyle stepped up to equalise from the penalty spot with four minutes remaining after Rovers had taken the lead six minutes earlier.
The Hoops, who had taken the lead through Shane Robinson in the 80th minute, looked set to double that advantage when Tony Grant's far post cross from the right found Glen Fitzpatrick unmarked but the striker sliced his volley wide of an open net.
That let off spurred Derry on to grab a late equaliser. Stephen Grant upended Ciaran Martyn inside the penalty area and referee Paul McKeon instantly pointed to the penalty spot.
Up stepped Coyle and his sweetly struck right-foot kick gave goalkeeper Barry Ryan no chance.
Hesitation in the home defence had allowed Robinson to give Rovers the lead. From a long throw-in the City central defence failed to clear and Robinson pounced to hammer a left-foot volley past Alan Gough.
Just before the game kicked off, it was announced that Derry will be without goalkeeper Wayne Russell, signed last week from Kildare County, for the rest of the season. The player suffered a serious ligament injury in the dying minutes of last week's away draw with Cork City.
As a result, Alan Gough's transfer to Linfield has been put on the back burner
DERRY CITY: Gough, McCallion, Hargan, Hutton, McLaughlin, Doherty, Hedderman, Beckett, Coyle, Martyn, Holt (Dixon, 69 mins)
SHAMROCK ROVERS: Ryan, Gough, Keddy, Colwell, Palmer, McGuinness, Robinson, T Grant, Fitzpatrick, Deans, S Grant.
Referee: P McKeon (Dublin)
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