Frustration for both sides at Dalymount Park this evening as Bohemians and Derry City play out an entertaining 2-2 draw after a lengthy delay in starting the match due floodlights failure.

James Clarke opened the scoring for Bohemians but first-half goals from Michael Duffy and Danny Mullen sent Derry in for the break with a slender lead.

Jonathan Afolabi converted from the spot in the second half sharing the spoils between the sides in a result that doesn’t benefit either team's cause in their league ambitions.

Apocalyptic weather conditions before the game resulted in the kick-off being postponed until 8:30 p.m. due to the floodlights failing to function due to a lightning strike in the city.

Once the game did eventually get underway, it started at a frantic pace with the home side being given a guilt-edged chance in the opening two minutes.

A delivery into the Derry City box caused a lot of panic around Brian Maher, who punched the ball towards the feet of Jonathan Afolabi. The Bohemians striker did get his shot away but he sliced it horribly away from goal.

The next big chance would also come Bohemians way, but this time the Gypsies would take the lead with an impressive goal.

Paddy Kirk’s one-two with Adam McDonnell allowed the Bohemians full-back to dribble infield before playing a surgical pass through the Derry defence to James Clarke. The Meath man shrugged off the challenge of Mark Connolly before calmly passing the ball past Brian Maher to open the scoring.

The home side’s lead would only last nine minutes as Derry responded with a goal of their own.

Tidy play in the Bohemians' box between Paul McMullen and Michael Duffy created room for Duffy to strike the ball from six yards out, and although the angle didn’t favour the Derry winger, he smashed the ball past James Talbot into the back of the Bohemians net to level the game.

More tidy play from the Candystripes on the half-hour mark created arguably the best chance of the game when Will Patching's reverse pass found its way to Danny Mullen, whose driven effort narrowly missed the target keeping the sides level.

Mullen would have another chance to get on the scoresheet, and he did just that in the 42^nd minute.

A looping delivery from a Derry City free-kick was headed back across goal towards Mullen, who headed the ball and produced his own looping effort, which deceived Talbot and floated over his head into the bottom corner.

The second half started as the rain continued to fall in Dalymount and although the weather has eased off slightly, neither side had any intention of following suit.

McMullen looked increasingly dangerous in the opening minutes of the second half but was unable to follow through on this threatening play.

The game would then turn again with the awarding of a penalty for Bohemians as Sadio Diallo brought down Adam McDonnell. Jonathan Afolabi had the chance to convert from the spot and made no mistake as the game was levelled for the second time this evening.

The Candystripes grew back into the game thanks to a header from Danny Mullen that was saved from Talbot, which resulted in a quick corner kick that set up Ben Doherty to hit a rasping shot off the crossbar but the Bohemians goal was not breached for a third time.

The game would become heated close to the end with tackles from Keith Buckley and James Clarke angering the Derry City players, but these flashpoints would be the only talking points in the remainder of this massively entertaining game.

With Shamrock Rovers winning at home this evening over Dundalk, the draw does little for Derry City who are chasing the Hoops down for the league title. Bohemians gain some ground on Dundalk but not enough to feel happy with the result.