DERRY City failed to get the confidence boost they required at a breezy Brandywell as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Cork City.

Cork skipper, Dan Connor, appeared to divert the a Ger O'Brien cross into his own net in the 45th minute after what had been a lethargic first half showing.

However, after the break they did up their performance despite the absence of quite a few first team regulars and they got their reward when 46th minute subsitute, Shane Duggan dilled the ball home from the edge of the area.

Derry, no doubt, will see this is a lost opportunity given that they failed to leapfrog the Munster side in the Premier Division table and they must now focus their attentions on next Thursday night's difficult trip to Bulgaria to face CSKA Sofia in the Europa League.

In the end, it was probably a fair result but both sides certainly had their chances to win what was, overall, a poor encounter.

The home side created the first clear-cut opening when the lively Gareth McGlynn set Aaron Nash up to score, but the striker flashed  his shot across the face of goal and wide when he should have done better.

But Cork were dangerous and in the 25th minute, Gunthars Silagailis really should have broken the deadlock.

With Eddie McCallion failing to incept a through ball, the Latvian gained possession and found himself in a one-on-one situation but it was Derry keeper, Ger Doherty who denied the striker from 12 yards.

Mark Farren had a shock blocked on the Cork goal-line by Danny Murphy while Ciaran Martyn’s effort was also smothered by a packed home defence.

However, in added time at the end of the opening period, the home side’s pressure finally paid off.

Ger O’Brien worked swung in a cross from the left flank and, assisted by the wind, the ball appeared to find its way to the net off the head of Murray, giving keeper, Dan Connor, no chance.

While Derry will have been delighted at the break, Cork were equally happy  six minutes after the re-start when they equalised.

And it was 46th minute substitute who netted with his first touch of the game.

A stray Derry City pass from defence allowed Neal Horgan to burst forward on the right and when he cut the ball back to the edge of the area, Duggan drove a ferocious shot the net from 16 yards giving Doherty no chance.

Cork continued to push and while Billy Dennehy had a low shot saved by Doherty in the 65th minute as the visitors certainly upped their performance.

Derry’s Thomas Stewart directed a shot wide of the target in the 72nd minute but with the wind the dominant factor, neither side could muster what would have been a winning strike.

Derry City – Doherty; McCallion, Molloy, Hutton, O’Brien; McGlynn, Higgins, Martyn (Deery, 80), Stewart; Nash (McManus, 66), Farren.

Cork City – Connor Horgan, Long, Murray, Murphy; Kiely (O’Neill, 61), Lordan, O’Donnell (Duggan, 46), Dennehy; Silagailis (Cambridge, 70), Kuduzovic.

Referee – Mr. Ritchie Winters (Wicklow).