McDaid is City's hero

The Brandywell men who were second best for long periods of the first half, fell a goal behind on 12 minutes when Billy Joe Burns’ shot was turned home by striker Peter Thompson.

Despite having a lot of possession in the first half the Blues didn’t trouble City keeper Gerard Doherty.

After the break the visitors started to more and more come into the game, with man of the match Barry Molloy playing a vital role.

However it was David Jeffrey’s side who nearly doubled their lead mid-way through the second half when Burns’ cross-cum-shot had Doherty beaten, but came back off the crossbar.

On 76 minutes that man Thompson got in behind the Derry defence, but the alert Doherty raced from his goal and denied the Northern Ireland international.

Declan Devine brought on striker Mark Farren for the disappointing Matthew Crossan and the Greencastle man had a good half chance with virtually his first touch, when he latched onto Molloy’s defensive splitting pass, but his touch let him down and Alan Blayney saved.

Molloy played his part in City’s equaliser on 85 minutes his clever cross to the back post found Stephen McLaughlin and his header back across goal found an unmarked McDaid, who gleefully volleyed home from close range.

McDaid’s leveller sets the second leg, which takes place at the Brandywell, on Monday, March 20, up very nicely.

Linfield: Blayney, Burns, Douglas, Watson, Curran; Lowry, Garrett, Gault, Carvill; Mulgrew; Thompson. Sub: Fordyce for Carvill (71).

Derry City: Doherty; Madden, S McEleney, Greacen, McCaffrey; P McEleney, Molloy, Higgins, Crossan; McLaughlin; McDaid. Subs: Farren for Crossan (59); McBride for Higgins (89).

Referee: Mr Raymond Crangle (Bangor).