Rylah strikes late to save Derry City's blushes

Substitute Henry Rylah saved Derry City's blushes as his late header secured a 2-2 League of Ireland Premier Division draw at basement club Waterford.

Kevin Dos Santos' second goal in three games gave Derry the lead, before a second half penalty from Tommy Lonergan and a header from Kevin Long put the home team ahead.

Rylah's late header sealed share of the spoils at the death, denying Waterford their first win of the season.

Pressure will continue to mount on Candystripes boss Tiernan Lynch as his side are now four games without a win after drawing for the eighth time this season.

Derry sit sixth in the table, 14 points off the leaders Shamrock Rovers.

Waterford remain rooted to the bottom of the table and are now nine points adrift of ninth-place Sligo Rovers.

The visitors should have taken the lead inside the opening five minutes as Michael Duffy's free-kick from deep was met by Jamie Stott on the edge of the six-yard box, but the defender could only fire over the top.

Waterford should have taken the lead 10 minutes later. A sloppy pass from Adam O'Reilly set Tommy Lonergan through on goal, with Eddie Beach racing off his line to save and stop what looked to be a sure goal.

After a stop-start opening quarter, Derry hit the front on 19 minutes as Brandon Fleming's quick free-kick set James Clarke away down the left before he picked out Dos Santos inside the area to score from close range.

Beach was once again called into action on the stroke of half-time, denying Padraig Amond who out-muscled Stott before shooting down the throat of the keeper.

The home side dominated the early exchanges of the second half, and that dominance was eventually rewarded with a golden chance to equalise.

Former Waterford player James Olayinka conceded a penalty for a foul on John Mahon and Lonergan stepped up, firing home from 12 yards to level proceedings.

The Munster club continued to dominate. Will Johnson's long throw was headed on by Mahon and the home crowd rose to their feet in anticipation of the net bulging, only to be denied by a miraculous goal-line clearance by Barry Cotter.

However, the home fans were celebrating moments later as Benny Couto's inviting delivery from the left was powered to the roof of the net by Kevin Long to give Waterford an unlikely lead.

Rylah's headed goal deep into four minutes of additional time stole a point for the Candystripes.

Waterford host Drogheda United next, while Derry City entertain St Patrick's Athletic at Celtic Park.

Waterford: McMullan, Houston (McMenamy 25), Cann, Long, Mahon, Couto, Heeney, Johnson, Noonan (Voilas 86), Lonergan (Barrett 91), Amond.

Subs not used: A Doherty, Carty, Coyle, Dempsey, Faria.

Derry City: Beach, Cotter, Stott, Barr, Fleming, O'Reilly, Olayinka, Clarke (Rylah 83), Duffy (Markey 83), Dos Santos (Dummigan 71), Akinyemi (Thomas 61).

Subs not used: Callister, Bannon, B Doherty, Downey, Winchester.