SSE Airtricity League Premier Division: St Patrick's Athletic 1 Derry City 1
DERRY City had to settle for a share of the spoils in an entertaining league opener at St Patrick's Athletic.
The Candystripes were hit by a sucker-punch right at the death as Joe Redmond's late goal cancelled out Jordan McEneff's first-half strike at a packed Richmond Park.
City boss Ruaidhrí Higgins will be frustrated that his side, just like last season, failed to take their clear-cut chances in a game they really should have wrapped up by half-time.
There certainly wasn't much love lost between the sides in the first half and both sets of benches were arguing and had to be talked to on a number of occasions by referee Robert Harvey.
City suffered a massive injury setback just before kick-off as Michael Duffy picked up an injury in the warm-up and was replaced by Fulham loanee Ollie O'Neill in the starting line-up.
On 26 minutes Derry should have taken the lead as Adam O'Reilly's superb through ball released Ryan Graydon, but after breaking the offside trap and with only David Odumosu to beat, the winger's poor attempted chip from close range, was well kept out by the St Pat's keeper.
Moments later Derry were gifted a glorious chance when, while outside the box Odumosu's terrible clearance fell to O'Neill, but his chip shot into the unguarded net was headed off the line by a back-tracking Joe Redmond.
The visitors finally took the lead on 33 minutes as Jordan McEneff broke from midfield after winning possession from Redmond, before running at the Saints defence and his scoop shot from 10 yards caught out Odumosu.
Soon after the Saints net-minder had to make a smart save diving low to his left to keep out Jamie McGonigle's stinging 20-yard drive.
Neither side really created much after the break, but it was the Saints who had the majority of the possesion without really troubling CIty goalkeeper Brian Maher.
The home side went close on 62 minutes but Jamie Lennon's 20-yard strike failed to test Maher and flew over the bar.
On 87 minutes, a teasing inswinging free-kick by Saints substitute Jake Mulraney caused problems for City, but Maher did well to deflect the effort away for a corner.
Tim Clancy's men equalised two minutes later as Vladislav Kreida's inswinging corner into the near post seemed to be bundled into the net by Redmond.
In Friday night's other action, Dundalk were also pegged back as Ciaran Behan's 78th-minute strike for UCD cancelled out John Martin's first-half opener. The Lilywhites will also rue a first-half penalty miss from Pat Hoban.
Cork City's return to the top flight was ruined by visiting Bohemians who went 2-0 ahead with goals from Grant Horton and Jordan Flores, with Ruairi Keating's 83rd-minute effort proving to be a consolation.
Shelbourne and Drogheda, meanwhile, played out a goalless draw at Tolka Park.
St Patrick's Athletic: Odumosu, Lewis, Breslin, Redmond, Grivosti (Atakayi 65), Lennon, Forrester (E Doyle 74), Lonergan (Carty 74), M Doyle (Mulraney 53), Kreida, Curtis.
Derry City: Maher, Coll, Connolly, S McEleney, McJannet (Boyce 44); Patching, O'Reilly, McEneff (B Kavanagh 70); Graydon, McGonigle (C Kavanagh 70), O'Neill (P McEleney 59).
Referee: Robert Harvey (Dublin)
