SETANTA SPORTS CUP: Linfield 1 Derry City 1:DERRY CITY moved to the top of Group Three after slipping out of Windsor Park, with a point gained from Tam McManus's equaliser five minutes from time.
Saturday’s drawn affair in Belfast also saw Linfield boss David Jeffrey sent off for remonstrating with referee Alan Black.
Paul Munster, a former Slavia Prague striker, gave Linfield a 15th minute lead and it seemed the home side, winners of the inaugural Setanta Cup, were heading for a deserved victory when McManus struck.
Linfield dominated much of the game and came close to adding a second on several occasions while searching for a first victory in this season’s competition.
Former Linfield striker Tommy Stewart saw his first-half penalty saved by former Northern Ireland international Alan Blayney.
But the Candystripes snatched the equaliser when McManus finished smartly from Ruaidhri Higgins’ lofted through ball.
DERRY CITY:Doherty; McCallion, McEleney, Hutton (Deery, half-time), O'Brien; McGlynn, Martyn (Martyn, 64 mins), Higgins, Kearney; Farren (Scullion, 77 mins), Stewart.
LINFIELD:Blayney; Ervin, Douglas, Lindsay, A. Burns (Curran, 84 mins); Carvill, B. Burns, Lowry, Tomelty; Miskimmin (Allen, 70 mins), Munster (McHugh, 70 mins).
Referee:A Black (Antrim).
