Derry City's winless run stretched to seven games as a 2-1 loss against Dundalk at Oriel Park heaped more pressure on manager Tiernan Lynch.

Daryl Horgan opened the scoring on 20 minutes before Cameron Dummigan levelled for Derry with a stunning strike.

However, the home side responded instantly with Gbemi Arubi's goal securing the three points for Dundalk.

Draws for Galway and Drogheda below them mean Derry remain sixth in the table but another poor result will leave a sour taste in the mouth until their next game at home to Bohemians in a fortnight's time.

The hosts had a big early chance when Horgan played in Declan McDaid one-on-one, but Eddie Beach did well to make himself big and block the shot.

Derry responded with Ben Doherty cutting the ball back to Josh Thomas but some brave defending from Shane Tracey denied the Welsh forward.

Dundalk followed this with a spell of pressure in the Derry box and they opened the scoring on 20 minutes when a clever flick-on from Gbemi Arubi sent Eoin Kenny away and he played in Horgan.

The Lilywhites' captain finished well despite Beach's best efforts, and it was almost two just moments later when Tyreke Wilson's long-range effort crashed back off the crossbar.

The Candystripes' best chance in the first half came just before the half-hour mark when Adam O'Reilly slipped in Doherty, but he dragged wide when he should have done better.

Arubi had a similar effort in added time and had a similar outcome as an entertaining first half ended with the hosts a goal to the good.

Lynch made a triple sub at the break with Paddy McClean, Darragh Markey and Michael Duffy entering proceedings and that saw his side look more threatening in the early exchanges.

However, it was a man who was on from the start who equalised in stunning fashion just before the hour as Duffy's corner was headed away to the edge of the box where Dummigan met it with a thumping first-time volley that fizzed in off the underside of the bar.

However, parity lasted less than two minutes as some lapse defending allowed Horgan to get to the by-line on the left and his ball across goal was nodded home by Arubi who managed to find space in the six-yard box.

A Duffy header forced a stunning save from Enda Minogue who then denied James Clarke's strike from a narrow angle as the clock ticked down.

That was the best the away side could muster despite finishing the game with a top-heavy line-up as they were unable to make it a third 2-2 draw between these sides this season.