National League playoffs / Limerick FC 0 Derry City 0: Derry City might claim to have achieved their goal in the first leg of their promotion/relegation play-off at the Pike Sports Ground yesterday, but Limerick manager Mike Kerley reminded his troops they went to the Brandywell two years ago and won the League Cup after a penalty shoot-out.

"It was a similar situation in that we drew both legs - there's no reason why we cannot have a repeat," said Kerley.

Limerick looked edgy in the opening quarter as Mark Farren was first to test goalkeeper John Healy, and Michael Holt threatened with two efforts that were marginally wide. However, Limerick eventually started to exert pressure on Alan Gough.

Limerick's Stephen O'Flynn had a few attempts to break the deadlock, but it was Derry who posed the most serious threat with Mark Farren and Michael Holt stretching Healy.

Limerick substitute Shane O'Donoghue made an immediate impact firing in a shot that skimmed the woodwork.

LIMERICK FC: Healy; O'Mahony, Molan, Purcell, Finucane, Sugrue, Sweeney, Keating, McCarthy, O'Flynn, Heffernan. Sub: O'Donoghue for McCarthy.

DERRY CITY: Gough; McCallion, Hedderman, Hutton, McLoughlin, McGlynn, Martyn, Doherty,Farren, Beckett, Holt.

Referee: A Kelly (Cork).