Another drab display by Derry City saw them miss another opportunity to cut the gap with the teams above them following a disappointing score-draw with a battling Cork City side.

The visitors, with striker Fahrudin Kuduzovic the best player on the pitch in the first half, faded after the break and had to settle for a share of the spoils.

For the Brandywell men the point means that at least they have stopped the run of three straight league defeats in a row, but they failed to capitalise on Shamrock Rovers’ draw at champions Bohemians earlier in the day.

Derry boss Stephen Kenny made a host of changes to his starting line-up, with Ciaran Martyn, Mark Farren, Ruaidhri Higgins and Aaron Nash, all coming in for Clive Delaney, Tam McManus, Kevin Deery and Sammy Morrow.

For Nash, it was his first start for his home town club and having already been the hero against Cork earlier in the season a repeat performance would have gone down a tread with the Candystripes supporters.

Guntars Silagailis, with only the keeper to beat, saw his close range shot saved by Gerard Doherty.

Thomas Stewart broke down the left and delivered a fantastic centre which picked out Mark Farren, but he somehow completed missed the chance.

A tremendous last ditch block by Danny Murphy denied Nash a certain goal, before Dan Connor jumped on the loose ball.

The opening goal came on the stroke half-time in rather fortunate circumstances for the home side.

Full-back Ger O’Brien produced a tremendous left wing cross into the six yard box and skipper Dan Murray’s glancing header flew into his own net.

Cork had to replace midfielder Stephen O’Donnell early in the second half and it was his replacement Shane Duggan who grabbed an equaliser with virtually his first touch in the 50 minute.

Neal Horgan’s low cross was only half-cleared by Peter Hutton and the alert Duggan rammed home the loose ball firmly into the net from 12 yards.

Ciaran Martyn wasted a golden chance in the 75th minute when he lifted the ball well over Dan Connor’s bar.

Right at the death substitute Davin O’Neil’s low drive from 20 yards failed to trouble the Derry keeper.

Derry City: Doherty; O’Brien, Hutton, Molloy, McCallion; Stewart, Martyn, Higgins, McGlynn, Farren; Nash. Subs: McManus for Nash (66); Deery for Martyn (82).

Cork City: Connor, Horgan, Murray, Long, Murphy; Kiely, Lordan, O’Donnell, Dennehy; Silagailis, Kuduzovic. Subs: Duggan for O’Donnell (47); O’Neill for Kiely (62); Cambridge for Silagailis (72).

Referee: Mr Richie Winters (Wicklow).