Super sub Dom Thomas earned Derry City a deserved share of the spoils, at Drogheda United.
Trialing at the break to Elicha Ahul's header, the Scottish man's deflected strike meant the Brandywell men ended their poor run of results against the Drogs.
The share of the spoils combined by Shamrock Rovers' impress win at Waterford, means City sit three points behind the Tallaght men, but Thomas' late strike felt like a big goal for Tiernan Lynch's side.
Not for the first time a contest between the sides at Drogheda with the home side defending well and neither side creating much.
The Brandywell men made two changes from their side which won at Cork City last week, with Ciaron Harkin and Robert Benson coming in for the injured Ronan Boyce and suspended Carl Winchester.
As for the home side they also made a couple of changes with James Bolger and Thomas Oluwa coming in for Frank Cooper, who dropped to the bench and Shane Farrell, who was also serving a one match ban.
The big news prior to kick-off was the news that Drogs boss Kevin Doherty signed a new contract to remain as manager until at least the end of the 2027 campaign.
Doherty, who has guided his side to three wins on the bounce against the Foylesiders famously seeing off tonight's opponents at the Aviva Stadium in last season's FAI Cup final. For Lynch, he went into the game with his side on a fantastic run having picked up 15 points from their last six games.
At a sun-soaked Sullivan & Lambe Park, it was the visitors who missed a great chance on 36 minutes as Gavin Whyte was too selfish when he should have played in Michael Duffy when they found themselves in a two versus one situation, but instead he tried to go it alone and Conor Kane did well to get back and cut out the danger.
United took the lead on 41 minutes in super fashion as centre-back Elicha Ahul rose well to powerfully head home Owen Lambe's right wing corner at the near post.
Trialing at the break Lynch brought on striker Daniel Mullen for Harkin and the change made Derry switched to a 4-4-2 system, as they looked to try and get back into the contest.
Mullen went close 59 minutes, but his snap-shot from the edge of the box failed to test United goalkeeper Luke Dennison.
The home side should have netted a second just after the hour mark when Ahul broke clear down the right getting away from Duffy and Kevin Holt, before picking out Thomas Oluwa, but his close range effort was diverted wide by Mark Connolly.
Soon after United went even close to doubling their lead as Conor Kane's delightful left wing cross found Oluwa, but the striker's close range header was superbly tipped over by Maher.
The visitors continued to freshen things with Dom Thomas, Paul McMullan and Pat Hoban all coming off the bench for Whyte, Duffy and Liam Boyce.
The ex-Dundalk man missed a great chance to level things with virtually his first touch but Hoban's miss hit effort from 10 yards was easily gathered by Dennison.
Oluwa should have wrapped the points up on 80 minutes when he had time and space inside the City box, but with Maher to beat, he blasted over from 10 yards.
The Candy Stripes grabbed a leveller on 90 minutes as Thomas' 20 yard strike took a massive deflection off Scott Brady on its way past Dennison.
Drogheda United: Dennison, Ahul, Keeley, Bolger; Lambe, Brennan, Heeney, Kane; Oluwa; James-Taylor (Brady 75), Davis (Bosakani 89).
Derry City: Maher, Cann, Connolly, Holt; Harkin (Mullen HT), O’Reilly, Benson, Todd; Whyte (McMullan 68), Boyce (Hoban 72), Duffy (Thomas 68).
Referee: Kevin O’Sullivan (Cork).
