Premier Division / Derry City 1 St Patrick's Athletic 1: The tight relegation battle in the Premier Division basement continues following Derry City's failure to overcome St Patrick's at The Brandywell last night.
All eyes in the north-west will now focus on Belfield this Friday night when Derry travel to face UCD, who were also held by Waterford United.
With the breezy conditions making matters difficult for both sides, St Patrick's enjoyed the benefits of the wind in the first half and they dominated the early scoring opportunities with Colm Foley and Keith Dunne squandering half-chances.
Derry threatened in the 10th minute when Seán Friars and Gareth McGlynn combined but the latter failed to get the necessary power into his effort and the chance was lost.
However, in the 27th minute the visitors broke the deadlock. Paul Donnelly played an incisive pass on the right and, with Derry defender Seán Hargan appearing to slip at the vital moment, Gary McPhee pounced to drive the ball home off the body of Alan Gough.
After the break the home side forced the issue and deservedly equalised in the 58th minute. A good move up the right flank saw Eddie McCallion's cross break perfectly into the path of Gary Beckett and the striker made no mistake from 10 yards.
From that point onwards the home side enjoyed the lion's share of possession but despite forcing St Patrick's onto the back foot, Derry failed to test Chris Adamson.
In the 77th minute Paddy McLaughlin was unlucky when he let fly from 30 yards, his shot dipping over the crossbar. And not even the magic of Derry substitute Liam Coyle could secure the home side what would have been a vital win.
St Patrick's, clearly happy to defend in numbers, held out to keep their hopes of an Intertoto Cup place intact, despite a late scare when Michael Holt's shot was deflected wide.
DERRY CITY: Gough; McCallion, Molyneaux, McLaughlin, Hargan; Deery, Martyn (Coyle, 83 mins) Hutton, Friars; McGlynn, Beckett (Holt, 88 mins)
ST. PATRICK'S ATH: Adamson; Maguire, Foley, Delaney, Foy; Fahey, Prenderville, Donnelly, Dunne; McPhee, Bird (Freeman, 83 mins).
Referee: D McKeon (Dublin).
