Derry City's winless run continues against Dundalk at Oriel Park

Cian Kavanagh's 79th minute header rescued a point for Derry City against Dundalk at Oriel Park to prevent the Candystripes from suffering a third straight league defeat.

Ruaidhrí Higgins’ side looked destined to bounce back from back-to-back home defeats over the Easter weekend against Drogheda Utd and Bohemians when Ben Doherty fired them ahead a minute before half-time.

However despite dominating proceedings throughout, a minute of madness midway through the half in which they conceded two goals inside 50 seconds from Robbie Benson and Johannes Yli-Kokko briefly threatened an upset from Stephen O’Donnell’s side - who themselves had lost their last three league matches.

Substitute Kavanagh would head home an equaliser 11 minutes from the end though with Derry unable to find a late winner despite the hosts finishing with 10 men following a straight red card for Wasiri Williams.

The draw will do little to ease the pressure on the FAI Cup winners, who once again failed to capitalise on dropped points from champions Shamrock Rovers on Friday. Higgins’s side are now eight points worse off than they were after 10 games of last season.

The visitors almost took the lead as early as the third minute when Sadou Diallo rattled the crossbar after Doherty’s corner had broken to him at the edge of the box.

The 26-year-old former Larne player would turn provider again for his side’s next chance on 16 minutes when his free kick was scuffed clear by Robbie Benson only as far as Ciaran Coll, who fired over from the edge of the area.

Derry passed up another big chance on 28 minutes when Doherty's corner was met by the inrushing Ryan Graydon but he could only head wide despite having a free header.

Dundalk, who lost Andy Boyle in the warm-up,