SHAMROCK ROVERS were held to a 1-1 draw by an impressive Derry City in an intriguing tie at Tallaght Stadium.

The Hoops led through a first half Gary McCabe goal but the Candystripes equalised through league top scorer Eamon Zayed.

Rovers are still three points clear at the top of the Premier Division with St Patrick’s Athletic in second place. Derry secured their second draw in the capital in four days.

After early flashes across goal by Gareth McGlynn at one end and Ronan Finn at the other, the first half went through lengthy periods without either keeper being tested.

There seemed little danger when the Hoops began the move that led to their opening goal in the 25th minute.

Pat Sullivan produced a deep cross from the right flank that went over the head of Gary Twigg but Gary McCabe arrived from the far wing to send a looping header spinning over the head of City keeper Ger Doherty and into the net.

Derry had plenty of possession as the half progressed but did not trouble Alan Mannus in the Rovers goal.

Hoops captain Dan Murray had the next attempt on target in the 45th minute when he flicked on a Stephen O’Donnell free-kick. It never had the venom to threaten a goal.

Two minutes into the second half McCabe sent in a well-struck low effort from just outside the Candystripes box but it was just off target.

The home defence were worried for the first time after the break in the 51st minute when a powerful Kevin Deery strike struck defender Craig Sives and almost fell to feet of Eamon Zayed. The league’s top scorer just failed to control with the goal at his mercy.

O’Donnell had a chance to extend the home lead when he smashed in a free-kick from the edge of the box in the 58th minute. It hit a Derry defender in the wall with Rovers claiming a penalty for hand-ball but referee Richie Winter waved play on.

Derry drew level in the 64th minute when Zayed got his head to a McClean corner at the near post to steer the ball home from close range.

Rovers were unfortunate not to regain control less than two minutes later when Sives found McCabe on the right with a brilliant pass and his low cross would have been touched in by Gary Twigg had Shane McEleney not beaten the striker to the ball.

Sives had a header comfortably saved by Doherty from a Conor McCormack delivered in the 71st minute as the game began to fire up.

Derry keeper Doherty almost handed Rovers a fluke winner in the 82nd minute when he fumbled a long range strike by McCabe that City had to scramble to safety.

SHAMROCK ROVERS : Mannus; Sullivan (Turner 75), Sives, Murray, Stevens, Finn, McCormack, O’Donnell (Rice 68), Sheppard (Dennehy 61), Twigg, McCabe.

DERRY CITY: Doherty; Molloy, Graecen, S McEleney, Lafferty, McGlynn, Deery, Higgins, P McEleney (McCallion 23), Zayed, McClean.

REFEREE: Richie Winter (Wicklow).