Derry City boss Ruaidhri Higgins hailed his players’ for their fighting spirit and claimed it was ‘no disgrace’ to blow a lead at St Pat’s.
The Candystripes were on course for victory at Richmond Park last night after taking a first-half lead through Jordan McEneff.
But Saints skipper Joe Redmond equalised from a corner in the 89th minute to deny the FAI Cup holders three points on the opening night.
Derry were dealt a blow in the warm-up when ace winger Michael Duffy shipped a calf injury and had to withdraw from the starting team.
And stand-in skipper Cameron McJannet was then forced off with a hamstring issue towards the end of the first-half.
Higgins - whose focus shifts to a home clash with Cork City next week - said: “It was a sense of disappointment as a lot went against us.
“Michael Duffy picked up an injury in the warm-up and Cameron McJannet comes off in the first-half.
“We were already without (Sadio) Diallo and (Cameron) Dummigan and Patrick McEleney is just back from injury, so we were dealt a few blows.
“But I felt the players fought. We weren't at our free-flowing best by any stretch of the imagination but in the first-half we had the three best chances.
“We had (Ryan) Graydon go through with a brilliant chance, Jordan gets a great goal, Ollie (O’Neill) gets one cleared off the line so we had chances.
“We would have liked to go in at half-time a few goals up but this is an extremely difficult venue and they’re a good side.”
Higgins continued: “Second-half, we gave away too many set plays in dangerous areas and eventually one of them caught us out.
“(Late in the game) we gave away too many free kicks, too many corners but we stood up 95% of the time and defended our box really well but we just got caught on one.
“It shows where we are that we have bodies missing but we come here and we are disappointed to leave with a point.
“All things considered, when you are 1-0 up going into the last few minutes of course it's bitterly disappointing not to get the three points.
“We were always going to come under a wee bit of pressure but a point here on the opening day of the season is no disgrace.
"We showed guts and I think St Pat's will be right there. You see the subs they can bring in in the second half, the squad they have.
“To come here and draw, I would have liked to have won when you're going into the latter stages in front, but hopefully it's not a bad point.”
