Derry City and Sligo Rovers will have to do it all over again after their FAI Carlsberg Cup semi-final tie ended in a scoreless draw at the Showgrounds.
In a thoroughly entertaining match, Derry boss Stephen Kenny will rue the fact that his side did not capitalise on a dominant second-half display that saw them earn 11 corners.
In truth, a draw suited neither team - Derry already have a packed schedule following their exploits in both domestic cups and the Uefa Cup, while Rovers have a terrible record in the Brandywell this season and lost 4-0 there on their last visit two weeks ago.
The home side welcomed back goalkeeper John O’Hara and Harpal Singh from injury but there was no place for Keith Foy, his place going to Chris Turner, back from suspension.
Derry were without the injured Darren Kelly and Killian Brennan, as Ken Oman and Patrick McCourt were brought back into the starting 11.
Rovers enjoyed a blistering start in front of a throbbing crowd of over 5,000 at the Showgrounds, and striker Paul McTiernan rattled the crossbar in the opening seconds.
McCourt was robbed of the ball and Rovers worked the ball to McTiernan on the left.
His cross was looking for Darren Mansaram and Derry captain Peter Hutton was only able to deflect the ball back into McTiernan’s path and he smashed a right foot shot off the top of David Forde’s crossbar.
Oman struggled early on and a moment’s hesitancy on 16 minutes allowed McTiernan to get on the end of Conor O’Grady’s header, but Forde was equal to the striker’s effort.
At the other end Derry midfielder Ciaran Martyn, playing in his home town, shot over when he found himself on his own in the box from Barry Molloy’s defence-splitting pass, while McCourt sent a low shot narrowly wide of John O’Hara’s goal.
Oman grew in stature as the game went on and his header from Sean Hargan’s long throw dropped invitingly to winger Gareth McGlynn in the six-yard box on 20 minutes, but his flick was smothered by O’Hara.
McCourt forced a great save from O’Hara shortly before the break as Derry continued to press, while O’Grady, the former Derry player, became the first player to be booked, for a late challenge on Gary Beckett.
Rovers had a couple of lucky escapes straight after the restart as Mark Farren began to exert his influence up front.
Liam Burns was caught in possession by the speedy striker and was lucky only to receive a booking as he pulled Farren to the ground.
Farren then capitalised in some slackness in the Rovers’ rearguard and sped past keeper O’Hara, but Rovers captain Michael McNamara recovered brilliantly to turn his goalbound effort around the post.
The excitement never let up and on 55 minutes Rovers’ Adam Hughes had a penalty shout waved away by referee Alan Kelly.
Hughes then combined with Gavin Peers on the right, but McTiernan and Harpal Singh were unable to connect with Peers’ delivery.
Farren continued to wreak havoc and he was hacked down by Peers at the edge of the box on the hour-mark.
McGlynn picked out Peter Hutton at the back post from the free, but O’Hara made another fine save to keep Derry at bay.
Derry’s corner count for the second-half was up to six by the 70th minute and Stephen Kenny brought Stephen O’Flynn on for McCourt to try and capitalise on this pressure and force a breakthrough.
Martyn became the first Derry player to be booked, for a tackle from behind on McTiernan, and Rovers began to find some space in behind Derry as the Candystripes pushed forward.
O’Grady’s superb cross-field ball found Fahrudin Kudozovic in space, but Hutton made a strong block.
At the other end O’Hara pulled off another great save to keep out a powerful half-volley from Molloy at the edge of the box.
Rovers captain McNamara was forced off with just seven minutes left and Martyn’s pull back found O’Flynn in space in the box, but again O’Hara made the stop.
Kenny sent Kevin McHugh on to try and win it, while Singh and Mansaram had chances at the other end, but time ran out and the teams will have to do it all again next Tuesday night in the Brandywell.
Sligo Rovers: John O’Hara, Gavin Peers, Michael McNamara (Jamie MacKenzie 84), Liam Burns, Chris Turner, Adam Hughes, Fahrudin Kudozovic, Conor O’Grady, Harpal Singh, Darren Mansaram, Paul McTiernan.
Subs not used: Keith Foy, Gary Curran, Richard Brush, Sean Kelly, Seamus Coleman, Choice Aisien.
Derry City: David Forde, Eddie McCallion, Peter Hutton, Ken Oman, Sean Hargan, Gareth McGlynn (Kevin Deery 76), Ciaran Martyn, Barry Molloy, Patrick McCourt (Stephen O’Flynn 68), Mark Farren (Kevin McHugh 90), Gary Beckett.
Subs not used: Patrick Jennings, Shaun Holmes, Clive Delaney, Ruaidhri Higgins.
Referee: Alan Kelly.
