Derry City had captain Michael Duffy to thank for a share of the spoils against Dundalk, but in truth referee Declan Toland gave them a massive helping hand by awarding the home side a controversial spot-kick on 96 minutes.
Trailing to Eoin Kenny's first half strike, Patrick McClean levelled for the Foylesiders, before substitute Gbemi Arubi put Dundalk back in front, however Duffy earned a point for Derry after referee Toland felt substitute Henry Rylah had been pulled back inside the box.
The home side suffered a massive blow with goalkeeper Brian Maher, who was in line for his 100th consecutive league appearance for the club, missing out after breaking his wrist.
He's likely to be out for a number of weeks, but his absence gave teenager Shea Callister, who only joined the club in the off-season, a chance in goals
City had strong claims for a penalty on four minutes as Mayowa Animasahun seemed to push James Clarke to the ground inside the box, but referee Declan Toland waved play on.
The deadlock was broken on 22 minutes as Eoin Kenny opened his account for the Lilywhites, when his curling left footed effort from 20 yards, found Callister’s bottom right hand corner, after JR Wilson had picked out the Northern Ireland U21 international’s path.
Dundalk should have doubled their lead minutes later as Keith Buckley’s centre found Danny Mullen at the back post, but his header was tipped away by Callister, who had to go full stretch to keep the ball out.
City thought they had levelled things on 47 minutes but Darragh Markey’s shot, which had Conor Kearns beaten, was headed off the line by Mullen.
The Candystripes did level things from James McClean’s resulting right wing corner, which picked out his brother Patrick and he rose unchallenged to head home from close range.
Soon after a fantastic flowing move by Derry ended with right-back Carl Winchester’s cross-cum-shot finding Josh Thomas virtually on the goal-line, but the striker’s shot was kept out by Kearns.
On 64 minutes a quick throw-in down the right by Daryl Horgan released substitute Gbemi Arubi and with virtually his first touch the striker made no mistake, firing low into Callister’s bottom right corner from the left hand side of the box.
Derry went close to equalising for a second time minutes later when McClean’s left wing corner again picked out his brother, but Patrick’s header was straight at Kearns, who easily kept the header out.
Another McClean delivery on 74 minutes found substitute Dipo Akinyemi and with his first touch the striker’s header was kept out by a diving Kearns, who did well to hold onto the ball when diving a full stretch.
The woodwork came to Derry’s rescue on 82 minutes as Mullen’s curling strike from the right hand edge of the box, which had Callister beaten, came crashing back off the post.
With minutes remaining Michael Duffy’s downward header from close range was easily saved by Kearns, after McClean’s left wing centre had picked out the City skipper at the back post.
In stoppage time Duffy’s free-kick, which had Kearns beaten, rattled the post; then with the last kick of the game Derry levelled things when the City skipper slotted home from the spot.
Derry City: Shea Callister, Carl Winchester, Patrick McClean, Rob Slevin, Brandon Fleming; Adam O’Reilly, James McClean; Michael Duffy, James Clarke (Dipo Akinyemi 74), Darragh Markey; Josh Thomas (Henry Rylah 92).
Dundalk: Conor Kearns, JR Wilson, Mayowa Animasahun (Vincent Leonard 45), Rob Cornwall, Bobby Burns; Keith Buckley (Ronan Teahan 62), Aodh Dervin; Declan McDaid (Gbemi Arubi 62), Daryl Horgan, Eoin Kenny (Tyreke Wilson 83); Danny Mullen.
Referee: Declan Toland.
