A LATE RORY PATTERSON goal means Shamrock Rovers and Derry City will have to do it all again on Tuesday night after their FAI Cup semi-final ended in a draw at Tallaght Stadium.
Derry could have been in front after just three minutes when Patrick McEleney sent Michael Duffy through on goal, but his shot was well saved by Barry Murphy.
Rovers quickly settled after that, however, and Simon Madden was proving to be their best attacking outlet down the right side.
The former Derry player sent in several teasing crosses inside the opening quarter of an hour, but Ryan McBride and Aaron Barry dealt with the threat.
Duffy, who was seeking his third FAI Cup goal this season, had the games next big chance from a similar position as his first, but once again Murphy saved.
The visitors may not have had as much possession in the opening half, but when they had the ball they moved it about with purpose, and the front four of Barry McNamee, Patterson, Patrick McEleney and Duffy always looked dangerous.
Rovers on the other hand were predictable in the first half, but a lively start from them after the interval saw both Finn and Brennan send inviting crosses into the Derry six-yard box.
The game went flat for a period after that, but the introduction of Dean Kelly for Karl Sheppard just after the hour mark proved to be a crucial one.
He bagged the all-important opening goal with 12 minutes left to play when he poked home Madden’s delivery from the right.
That goal sparked huge celebrations around Tallaght Stadium, but the home crowd were stunned into silence with just three minutes left when Rory Patterson found the bottom corner from a Mark Timlin corner-kick.
And the visitor’s could have booked their place in the final in injury-time when Patterson set up Duffy, but Murphy saved brilliantly low to his left.
SHAMROCK ROVERS: Murphy, D O’Connor, Kenna, McGuinness, Madden, McPhail, Cregg, Brennan (Waters 75), S O’Connor (McCabe 85), Sheppard (Kelly 63), Finn.
Substitutes: Hyland, Byrne, Robinson, McCabe, Kilduff, Waters, Kelly.
DERRY CITY: Doherty, Jarvis, Molloy, McBride, McNamee, McEleney, Patterson, Duffy, Lowry, Dooley (Timlin 75), Barry.
Substitutes: Gallagher, McEleney. Boyle, Tracey, Houston, Timlin, Curran.
