Glentoran 1 Derry City 1:DERRY CITY experienced a night of frustration in Belfast, where they failed to make the most of their dominance of this Setanta Cup Group Two game.
The League of Ireland side failed to take a commanding qualifying position before the summer break of fixtures after they were pegged back by Colin Nixon's second-half equaliser - and his was a goal that gave Glentoran a lifeline in the competition.
Conor Sammon scored from the penalty spot for the visitors early in the second half.
Facing a Glentoran side that had seven changes in personnel since last weekend's title battle with Linfield, Derry City should have established a handsome lead in the first 10 minutes of this lively encounter.
In the opening minute, Sammon broke clear of an inexperienced home defence but wasted his opportunity from close range with only Glentoran goalkeeper Elliot Morris to beat. Sammon could only register a tame curled effort that was easily gathered by Morris.
Seconds later Sammon caught sight of goal again but dithered and was crowded out on the edge of the goalmouth.
In the 10th minute Derry's dominance was rewarded with a free-kick which Kevin McHugh struck, only to be denied by the crossbar.
Against the run of play, Gary Hamilton almost stunned the visitors when he engineered a chance for himself but had his superbly struck effort saved by the feet of Derry's Gerard Doherty.
The Derry goalkeeper was called upon again in the 33rd minute to tip Michael Halliday's header over the bar from another rare attacking move from the Irish League side.
Just before the interval, Sammon was again presented with a chance but the former UCD striker blasted his shot woefully high and wide. But it was Sammon who gave Derry the lead from the penalty spot in the 50th minute.
Sammon dispatched the spot-kick - awarded after Andrew Ferguson upended the racing Niall McGinn in the goalmouth - despite the brave attempt of Morris who got his hand to the ball but could not prevent it creeping beyond him.
If Derry manager Stephen Kenny thought the remainder of this game would take a course to suit the visitors, their expectations were jolted in the 70th minute when Glentoran substitute Colin Nixon levelled.
Only on the pitch for four minutes, the defender brilliantly curled a goalmouth effort around Doherty, the ball striking the post before nestling in the net.
Seven minutes from time Peter Hutton blasted a close-range header over the bar. Then, as Derry mounted a late flurry, Gareth McGlynn struck the post with a long-range shot and Morris denied Martyn with a dramatic save in the 89th minute.
GLENTORAN: Morris, Halliday, Scullion, Boyce, Fitzgerald, Berry, Glendinning (Nixon 66), Simpson, McGovern, Ferguson (Leeman half-time)Hamilton (Ward, half-time). Booked: Boyce 83.
DERRY CITY: G Doherty, McCallion, Hutton, Grey, Martyn, McHugh (Morrison 77), Sammon, Callahan, McGlynn, Molloy, McGinn.
Referee: M Courtney (Dungannon).
