Dundalk and Derry City will have to do it all over again on Tuesday night to determine who will take their place in the FAI Cup final after The Candystripes came from two goals down to force a replay at Oriel Park.
Two nil up at the break, it looked like Dundalk had done enough to book their place in a second successive final but goals from Rory Patterson in the 65th minute, and substitute, Ronan Curtis, with just four minutes to go means the sides will go at it again at The Brandywell.
Dean Shiels and Alan Keane - a three time FAI Cup winner with Sligo Rovers - haven’t had too many chances to impress since joining Dundalk midway through the season but they played an integral part in the first goal of a thrilling semi-final.
Shiels, a son of Derry manager, Kenny, started the move, playing it wide to Keane, who exchanged passes with John Mountney before carrying on with his run.
Derry skipper Ryan McBride advanced but Keane skipped by him brilliantly before turning a vicious ball across the face of goal for Shiels to bravely head home under pressure from Niclas Vemmelund.
It was a bittersweet moment for the Northern Ireland international, whose bravery resulted in him shipping an arm injury that saw him withdrawn before play restarted.
The goal knocked Derry out of their confident, early stride that saw Rory Patterson force a fabulous save from Gabriel Sava after just three minutes.
And they were left with a mountain to climb when they conceded a second, just 30 seconds before the break.
Patrick McEleney, who came on to replace Shiels, lifted a delightful ball over the Candystripes back four and Ciaran Kilduff controlled before prodding home with his right foot.
Derry needed a quick reprieve and they almost got it within seconds of the restart. Andy Boyle’s header back to Gabriel Sava fell short, allowing Nathan Boyle to get there ahead of the goalkeeper but Paddy Barrett was on hand to clear the danger.
Kilduff almost put the game to bed in the 50th minute, his header from McEleney’s pinpoint cross coming back off Doherty’s post with the goalkeeper flailing.
Chris Shields and Stephen O’Donnell then almost combined in the final third with the Lilywhites skipper diverting his midfield partner’s cross wide of the target.
Keane showed his class again at the opposite end of the pitch just short of the hour mark, somehow managing to divert Curtis’ vicious ball across goal away before Patterson could apply the finishing touch.
The Derry hitman made no mistake six minutes later, though, hauling his right side back into the game.
Aaron McEneff’s drive from the right of the penalty area took a deflection off Grimes and when Sava parried, Patterson was on hand to tap home.
That set up a nervy ending to the game and Derry almost drew level in the 78th minute. Barry McNamee’s drive was beaten back into the danger zone by Sava but Barrett was there to stop Lucas Schubert from restoring parity.
Stephen Kenny’s side never looked comfortable, however, and the equaliser arrived with four minutes to go.
Dean Jarvis’ free-kick dropped over the head of Keane and Curtis was able to control the ball and come inside Barrett before lashing a right footed half volley past Sava to send the large travelling support crazy.
Dundalk: Gabriel Sava; Alan Keane, Paddy Barrett, Andy Boyle, Shane Grimes;
Chris Shields, Stephen O’Donnell; John Mountney, Dean Shiels (Patrick McEleney 23), Daryl Horgan (Robbie Benson 72); Ciaran Kilduff (David McMillan 82).
Derry City: Gerard Doherty; Conor McDermott, Niclas Vemmelund, Ryan McBride (Ben Doherty 59), Dean Jarvis; Conor McCormack, Aaron McEneff; Lucas Schubert (Josh Daniels 81), Barry McNamee, Nathan Boyle (Ronan Curtis 52); Rory Patterson.
Referee: Graham Kelly.
