MIDFIELDER Aaron McEneff capped off what has been an emotional week by firing home a late equaliser for Derry City against St Patricks Athletic at Maginn Park last night.
The Northern Ireland U21 international, who missed City’s midweek game against Limerick due to a family bereavement, scored the Candystripes’ all-important second goal in the closing stages.
McEneff only started the game at the last minute as boss Kenny Shiels was forced into making two changes before kick-off as both Nathan Boyle and Nicky Low picked up groin problems, with Mikhail Kennedy and McEneff coming into the starting line-up.
McEneff went close to breaking the deadlock on eight minutes but his long range strike as parried away by St Pats keeper Conor Mailey and Lukas Schubert’s follow-up close range effort flashed just wide.
St Pat’s took a shock lead on 21 minutes as Kurtis Byrne burst clear of the City defence before calmly slotting the ball past City keeper Gerard Doherty.
To City’s credit they pushed forward for an equaliser and O’Mailey made a top drawer save to somehow keep out Harry Monaghan’s close range strike.
Just before the half-hour mark, O’Mailey denied Ben Doherty twice in quick succession, making super saves.
Moments later, in a rare breakaway, St Pats’ Darragh Markey saw his 20-yard strike kept out by a fully-stretched Doherty.
City levelled things on 39 minutes as Ronan Curtis cut in from the left onto his favoured right foot and unleashed an unstoppable shot, which flew past O’Mailey.
Right on the stroke of half-time, O’Mailey had to make two big saves to deny Kennedy.
St Pat’s regained the lead on 69 minutes in sublime fashion when some super skill by Lee Desmond on the edge of the box ended with his back flick finding Conan Byrne and the winger’s delightful chip from the right hand side of the box flew over Doherty.
Substitute Josh O’Hanlon got in behind the City defence on 81 minutes but he was denied by an out-rushing Doherty.
Derry for a second time levelled things on 84 minutes as Conor McDermott laid the ball back for McEneff to fire home from just inside the box.
Meanwhile, Finn Harps suffered their fourth league defeat in five games as Bohemians were comfortable 2-0 victors at Dalymount Park.
Bohs got off to the perfect start as George Poynton put the Dublin side ahead in the seventh minute.
Harps manager Ollie Horgan was sent to the stands just before half-time and his mood didn’t improve four minutes after the interval when Oscar Brennan scored the home side’s second.
Barry Molloy’s second yellow card five minutes later all but ended any chance of a fightback from the Donegal outfit as their recent poor form continued.
One side not worried about poor form is Cork City as they made it 11 wins from 11 games with a 2-1 home win against Bray Wanderers.
Sean Maguire opened the scoring from the penalty spot after 11 minutes for John Caulfield’s side and John Dunleavy doubled their advantage two minutes from time. Derek Foran pulled one back for the visitors in injury-time.
It was an excellent night for City as champions Dundalk dropped more points going down 2-1 away to Galway United.
Vinny Faherty put Galway ahead with a header before David McMillan equalised. It was Stephen Kenny’s side that looked the more likely side to find a winner but Gary Shanahan grabbed a 92nd-minute clincher for the basement club.
Shamrock Rovers, meanwhile, were 1-0 victors over Limerick thanks to a Roberto Lopes strike, while Drogheda United and Sligo Rovers played out a 1-1 draw.
Bohemians 2 Finn Harps 0; Cork City 2 Bray 1
Derry 2 St Patricks 2; Drogheda 1 Sligo Rovers 1;
Galway 2 Dundalk 1; Shamrock Rovers 1 Limerick 0
