Setanta Cup/Derry City 2 Linfield 2:Derry City experienced great heartbreak at the Brandywell last night when almost losing a Setanta Cup game that had been in their grasp for so long.

Cruising at half-time and leading 1-0, Derry doubled that advantage on the hour, inspired by a virtuoso performance by their right winger, Paddy McCourt.

However, defensive frailties would cost them dearly when they conceded two particularly soft goal due to horrendous defending.

And their Setanta Cup dream now appears in tatters when, at one stage, the result of this game looked a formality.

The result, it has to be said, was a shame from a Derry point of view and, indeed, casts a cloud over the performance of McCourt who capped a magnificent performance with a sensational goal.

But credit to Linfield who never gave up, refusing to be intimated by Derry's dominant first-half display.

Gary Beckett broke the deadlock in the 34th minute when he latched onto a high ball from goalkeeper Pat Jennings, before driving it high into the net.

But after the break it was different story, the home side losing their composure of the first half.

Granted, they actually doubled their lead on the hour when McCourt was played through by Beckett before he lashed a superb angled shot to the net.

But that was as good as it got, Derry appearing decidedly nervous when Aidan O'Kane headed a Glenn Ferguson cross home to reduce the deadlock in the 74th minute.

And that nervous finish proved true as the home side made another defensive mess of what should have been a routine clearance.

With goalkeeper Jennings losing out in a race with Ferguson for possession, the Linfield striker found Mark Dixon and his low shot crept into the far corner to level matters and silence the home contingent.

With just one minute remaining in normal time, Linfield could have actually won this one when Kearney burst down the left but his low shot was turned around the post by Jennings.

For Linfield fans present, this was an amazing comeback and their inspirational central midfield, Paul McAreavey, was at the centre of everything the produced in the second half.

Linfield remain on top of the Group One table and on this display of commitment, it's hard not to see them qualify for the semi-finals.

For Derry's new boss Pat Fenlon, this will have proved a particularly hard pill to swallow.

DERRY CITY:Jennings; McCallion, Kelly, Hutton, Rogers, McCourt, Molloy, Higgins (Brennan, 89 mins), Deery, Beckett, Farren (McHugh 76 mins).

LINFIELD:Shannon; Ervin, Bailie, Douglas, McShane, Dickson, Mulgrew, McAreavey, O'Kane, Ferguson, Stewart (Kearney, half-time).

Referee: A McCourt(Bangor).