Derry City experienced heartbreak at the Brandywell after dropping two points due to disastrous defending during their 2-2 draw with Linfield in this Setanta Sports Cup game.
While the Candystripes led at the break, Derry really should have entered the dressing rooms with a much more comfortable advantage.
After the break it was different story, the home side losing the composure of the first half and, if the truth be told, their Setanta Cup dream could well have ended last night.
It was clearly the magic of Paddy McCourt who sparked the home side into life, the winger’s skilful close control and deceiving pace, ran the Linfield defence ragged, so much so that in almost every foray forward, he was heavily involved.
He made his entry into the proceedings in the 12th minute when leaving two defenders in his wake before setting-up Ruaidhri Higgins from the right-hand side of the penalty area but the midfielder opted for power and blazed the ball over the crossbar.
Six minutes later, McCourt found Eddie McCallion whose cross to the back post saw Kevin Deery divert the ball over the bar off his knee.
But the home side's best chance arrived in the 23rd minute when the maestro McCourt played an incisive pass through the Linfield defence to pick out Gary Beckett who amazingly dragged his shot wide when well placed.
Beckett, however, made amends in the 34th minute when he raised the roof with the game's opening goal.
And on this occasion it was the route one approach. A long ball from keeper, Jennings, was brought under control by the Derry striker and having side-stepped a defender, he drove the ball high into the net from 16 yards giving keeper, Greg Shannon, no chance.
Linfield, who introduced Oran Kearney at the expense of young Thomas Stewart at the break, made a lively start to the second half with Paul McAreavey smashing a shot off the Derry crossbar in the 49th minute.
And one minute later Mark Dickson threatened but his header was directed straight into the welcoming hands of Jennings.
But back came the home side and but for the agility of Shannon, Derry would have doubled their lead. McCourt again had control of the ball and when his pass again found Beckett in space, his shot on the turn was superbly beaten away by the Linfield keeper.
The best, however, was yet to come and on the hour the undoubted star of the show capped a magnificent performance with a sensational goal.
Having been set free from he half-way line by Beckett, McCourt's electrifying pace carried him clear before he let fly with a spectacular shot right-foot shot which flew across the body of Shannon and into the corner of the net from 25 yards.
Comfortably in the lead, Linfield battled back to reduce the arrears in the 74th minute and it was a goal of Derry's own making.
Poor defending saw Glenn Ferguson gain possession on the side of the penalty area and his teasing centre, across the face of goal, was powerfully headed home by the advancing Aidan O'Kane to guarantee a nervous finish for the home side.
And that nervous finish proved true as the home side made another defensive mess of what should have been a routine clearance.
With keeper Jennings losing out in a race with Ferguson for possession, the Linfield striker found Mark Dixon and his low shot crept into the far corner to level matters and silence the home contingent.
With just one minute remaining in normal time, Linfield could have actually won this one when Kearney burst down the left but his low shot was turned around the post by Jennings.
Derry City: Jennings 4; McCallion 7, Kelly 6, Hutton 6, Rogers 7; McCourt 8, Molloy 6, Higgins 5 (Brennan, 89 mins.), Deery 5; Beckett 7, Farren 6 (McHugh, 76 mins.).
Linfield: Shannon 4; Ervin 5, Bailie 7, Douglas 7, McShane 6; Dickson 7, Mulgrew 6, McAreavey 7, O’Kane 7 ; Ferguson 7, Stewart 4 (Kearney, half-time).
Referee: Mr. A. McCourt (Bangor).
