With a first half as unremarkable as you will ever see in Oriel Park the second was the polar opposite that burst into life with four goals, a red card for two-goal hero Patrick Hoban and a come back for Derry City to earn them a point to take away b
In a game that fitted the bill of an exciting contest pre match proved to be the case as Dundalk and Derry played out an entertaining draw in Oriel Park in the SSE Airtricity League.
Robbie Benson got Dundalk off to a flying start before Aaron McEneff scored from the penalty spot. The goal scoring didn't end there with goals in close succession of each side of the half by Michael Duffy and Eoin Toal saw Derry and Dundalk play out a tense and pulsating draw.
The game played at a high tempo and pressing game by the home side saw them get off to a perfect start when a brilliant cross from John Mountney was met by Robbie Benson at the near post who tapped it past Doherty to open the scoring.
Patrick Hoban was sure to have added a second when he broke free of the Derry defence following some great work by McGrath only for Doherty to deny him with a vital touch.
The biggest chance of the first half came in the 28th minute when a cross from Massey was met by Hoban which Doherty could only parry, Mountney then headed towards goal but Doherty saved again.
Jamie McDonagh tried his luck from range but his effort was well saved by Rogers on the second attempt. Derry were awarded a penalty after a challenge by Cleary is the area was adjuged to be a foul and McEneff cooly slotted it away.
As the final seconds ebbed away in the first half Dundalk responded and its was the Derry local who got it, Sean Gannon's run from the right saw the defender send in a low cross which fell to Duffy who made no mistake.
The second half was barely alive when McEneffs free kick could only be parried and Toal was on hand to tap it home, what a game this was proving to be. A big moment in the second half came when Duffy blazed into the area and he was deemed to have been taken down, it looked by the reaction by all to be a penalty and the referee looked to have pointed to the spot, it however was a goal kick much to the relief of the Derry City back line.
