Dundalk FC battle back to earn draw with Candystripes

Dundalk FC’s encouraging run in the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division continued as they twice came from behind to earn a 2-2 draw with Derry City, who finished with 10 men following James McClean’s late dismissal.

It proved another frustrating outing for the visitors, whose goals from James Clarke and Dipo Akinyemi were cancelled out by Tyreke Wilson and substitute Ronan Teahan.

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Dundalk began brightly and fashioned the game’s first opportunity inside four minutes when JR Wilson’s cross was met at the back post by Keith Buckley, whose header drifted over.

The hosts threatened again soon after, Gbemi Arubi’s incisive pass releasing Declan McDaid, but he was denied by Derry goalkeeper Eddie Beach.

Derry’s first opening arrived on 10 minutes, Ben Doherty drilling over after being picked out by Clarke. Four minutes later, however, the visitors took the lead. Doherty escaped Bobby Burns down the flank and delivered for Clarke, who turned home in unorthodox fashion to make it 1-0.

Dundalk sought an immediate response, JR Wilson firing over from distance before Burns’ corner was met by Mayowa Animasahun, only for Beach to tip the header over.

McDaid then crossed for Arubi, whose effort was off target, but the home side drew level in spectacular style on 35 minutes. McDaid held off Doherty before lofting a pass to Tyreke Wilson, who controlled on his chest and lashed an unstoppable left-footed effort in off the post.

Against the run of play, Derry restored their lead in first-half stoppage time. Doherty’s free-kick struck the wall, but his follow-up was turned goalwards by Akinyemi, leaving Enda Minogue flatfooted.

Dundalk pressed again after the break. Harry Groome pulled the ball back for Eoin Kenny, who appeared certain to score until Jamie Stott intervened. Harvey Warren’s angled effort was repelled by Beach, while JR Wilson also tested the Derry defence during a goalmouth scramble.

Ciaran Kilduff introduced three substitutes on the hour and one of them, Teahan, soon forced Beach into a save with a low drive. McDaid volleyed wide, and Derry nearly sealed the points when Josh Thomas broke clear down the right, his lifted effort flashing inches across goal.

Instead, Dundalk found a deserved equaliser on 79 minutes. Tyreke Wilson delivered into the box and Teahan guided a header into the bottom corner.

The hosts almost snatched victory late on when Kenny, slipped through by Arubi, floored two defenders before striking the outside of the post.

There was still time for further drama as McClean was shown a second yellow card in stoppage time for a high boot on Shane Tracey, but neither side could find a winner as the points were shared.

Dundalk FC: Enda Minogue; JR Wilson, Mayowa Animasahun, Harvey Warren, Tyreke Wilson; Keith Buckley (Ronan Teahan 60), Bobby Burns (Aodh Dervin 60); Declan McDaid, Harry Groome (Shane Tracey 60), Eoin Kenny; Gbemi Arubi

Subs not used: Peter Cherrie (gk), Leo Gaxha, Luke Mulligan, Sean Spaight, Aaron Keogh, TJ Molloy

Derry City: Eddie Beach; Conor Barr, Jamie Stott, Rob Slevin (Cameron Dummigan 55); Barry Cotter (Josh Thomas 73), Adam O’Reilly (James McClean 61), Carl Winchester, Brandon Fleming; Ben Doherty; James Clarke (James Olayinka 61), Dipo Akinyemi (Kevin Santos 73)

Subs not used: Shea Callister (gk), Darragh Markey, Henry Rylah, Alex Bannon

Referee: Paul Norton (Dublin)

Attendance: 2,736