DERRY CITY had Barry McNamee to thank for their share of the spoils against a well-organised Limerick side at Maginn Park last night.
The talented Ramelton man’s stunning free-kick on the hour mark cancelled out Shane Duggan’s equally impressive first half strike.
Midfielder McNamee got his first start in a number of weeks, replacing Ronan Curtis, who dropped to the bench.
As for Limerick, they kept with the same side which drew with Galway United on Friday night.
It was the visitors who broke the deadlock on 12 minutes as Duggan made no mistake, blasting home from 20 yards after Ben Doherty’s terrible misplaced pass only picked out the Limerick captain.
City’s first real effort at goal came on 34 minutes but McNamee’s curling effort from the edge of the box flew over Brendan Clarke’s crossbar.
Two minutes later Limerick striker Rodrigo Tosi went close, but the striker saw his 25-yard drive fly well over.
Derry equalised on 60 minutes in super fashion as the returning McNamee made no mistake, curling home a sublime free-kick from the edge of the box after Dean Jarvis had been fouled.
Limerick had two super chances to regain the lead with Tosi going close twice, but the Brazilian front man saw his drive and header both kept out by Doherty.
In the closing stages both McNamee and Curtis went close for Derry but some last ditch blocks from Tony Whitehead and Clarke denied them.
Clarke had to make a top drawer save on 75 minutes, finger-tipping over Ronan Curtis’s drive.
Derry City: G Doherty, McDermott, Barry, Jarvis, B Doherty; Schubert (Kennedy 76), Monaghan, Low, Timlin (Curtis HT); McNamee, Boyle
Limerick: Clarke, Kelly, Williams, O’Conor, Lynch, Duggan, Tosi (Walsh 88), Whitehead, Robson, Mulhall (Clarke 69), Ogbene
Referee: Mr Paul Tuite (Dublin)
