SSE Airtricity League Premier Division: Dundalk 1 Derry City 1
ONCE again, that man Pat Hoban broke Derry City hearts, this time his injury-time header earned Dundalk a share of the spoils, at Oriel Park.
The Candy Stripes, who led thanks to James Akintunde's first half goal, will feel the share of the spoils was like a defeat after conceding in stoppage time.
To their credit Dundalk deserved a point as their pressure finally told on 93rd minute thanks to Hoban's fantastic equaliser.
The home side had a good chance on 11 minutes as Steven Bradley's teasing right-footed cross to the back post was inches away from the unmarked Pat Hoban, who was unable to get that crucial touch.
That miss came back to haunt Dundalk, as the visitors took the lead a minute later when Joe Thomson won possession from Greg Sloggett, before feeding James Akintunde, the striker did well to create himself some space inside the box before his left footed effort beat Nathan Shepperd.
City should have doubled their lead just after the half-hour mark as Sadou Diallo's clever ball over the top released Thomson, who broke the offside trap, but with only Shepperd to beat the midfielder's touch let him down as he was bearing down on the goal and the Dundalk keeper raced off his line to deny him on the edge of the box.
The Oriel Park men went close to levelling things just before the break as slick passing move ended with Ryan O'Kane latched onto Hoban's pass before seeing his low drive from the left-hand edge of the box, kept out by a diving Brian Maher, before Cameron McJannet blasted the loose ball away.
Dundalk centre-back Sam Bone went close to levelling things early in the second half, but the defender's low strike failed to test Maher and flashed just wide.
Stephen O'Donnell's side went close on 77 minutes as Darragh Leahy's in swinging corner found Greg Sloggett at the near post, but the midfielder headed over.
Minutes later Derry brought on Michael Duffy and the talented winger's first piece of action saw him draw a save from Shepperd, as his curling 25-yard free kick was gathered by the Dundalk keeper.
Dundalk should have levelled things on 85 minutes as the dangerous Bradley saw his low cross find Ryan O'Kane, but the substitute's close-range effort was gathered by a diving Maher.
The home side levelled things on 93 minutes as Bradley's left-wing centre found Hoban, who got half a yard away from Connolly, before powerfully heading home past Maher.
Dundalk: Shepperd, Macari (Benson 74), Boyle, Bone, Leahy; Sloggett, Adams (Ward 74), Doyle (Lewis 23); Kelly (O'Kane 28), Hoban, Bradley.
Derry City: Maher, Dummigan, S McEleney, Connolly, McJannet; Diallo. P McEleney, Thomson (Lafferty 88); Glass (Duffy 78), Akintunde (McGonigle 67), Graydon (Kavanagh 78).
Referee: Rob Hennessy (Dublin).