Limerick 1

Derry City 1

Andrew Cunneen reports from Markets Field

CHIEDOZIE OGBENE SNATCHED a point at the death for Limerick with virtually the last kick of the game at the Markets Field.

Both managers were frustrated with the state of the surfaces they played on in their previous encounters. Limerick fell to a 3-0 defeat last Saturday in Sligo, while Derry were held at Eamonn Deacy Park on Monday.

Derry and Limerick both made a change each — Chris Mulhall replaced Chiedozie Ogbene while Nicky Low came in for Ben Doherty.

The hosts had the brighter start without creating too much in the way of clear-cut chances. Derry lined out with three at the back and entrusted Nicky Low to plug passing lanes in front of sizeable gaps inside – a role that Conor McCormack did so well in 2016 for the Candystripes.

Limerick themselves haven’t had a natural holding midfielder since Joe Gamble left for Brunei and that much was obvious. Aaron McEneff constantly found space in behind the Blues’ midfielder.

The first real chance of the game fell to Dean Clarke. Tommy Robson gained possession before feeding Lynch, who had lost Nicky Low. The Limerick native advanced into the Derry half, with Robson offering an overlap and Clarke tucking inside of McDermott. The ex-Rovers winger took the ball in his stride before turning the Derry defender and shooting across Doherty, but he saved with his leg. The rebound fell to Limerick captain Shane Duggan but his drive was well tipped over by the excellent City skipper.

The Candystripes themselves forced Brendan Clarke into a double save just before the half when a venomous drive from Aaron McEneff was palmed away by the former Saint, before he got back up to push the ball away from the in-rushing Nathan Boyle.

The second half was a poor affair but the away side did manage to take the lead.

Ten minutes from time, the Derry City veteran nodded home Aaron McEneff’s corner from the left as he was unmarked in the box – much to the frustration of Brendan Clarke.

Just as it seemed Kenny Shiels’ men had it in the bag, Limerick sub Ogbene netted from close range after a scramble in the box to send the home fans into raptures.

Limerick: Brendan Clarke; Shaun Kelly, Tony Whitehead, Robbie Williams, Tommy Robson; Paul O’Conor (Bastien Hery, 80), Shane Duggan; Chris Mulhall (John O’Flynn, 80), Lee-J Lynch, Dean Clarke; Rodrigo Tosi (Chiedozie Ogbene, 63).

Derry City: Ger Doherty; Conor McDermott, Aaron Barry, Dean Jarvis; Ronan Curtis, Aaron McEneff, Nicky Low, Harry Monaghan, Josh Daniels (Mark Timlin, 67); Barry McNamee; Nathan Boyle (Mikhail Kennedy, 67).

Referee: Sean Grant (Wexford).

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