Pat McCourt and Paul McAreavey both had fine games

Peter Thompson put the Blues ahead on nine minutes after Derry goalkeeper David Forde had failed to gather Noel Bailie's free-kick.

Mark Farren levelled from the penalty spot in the 16th minute after Pat McShane had hauled down Pat McCourt.

Derry missed further first half chances but Linfield improved after the break.

Ken Oman, preferred to Clive Delaney in the centre of the Derry defence, missed a glorious opportunity for Derry in the 20th minute after Alan Mannus had flapped at a cross.

Mannus showed nerves again when he failed to gather a Killian Brennan corner in the 43rd minute but Oman's header was cleared off the line.

A draw was probably a fair result but we certainly felt a few decisions went against us Linfield boss David Jeffrey

The outstanding Bailie then came to Linfield's rescue in first half injury-time when he blocked a pointblank effort by Stephen O'Flynn after Farren had got behind the Blues defence.

Linfield lifted their game after the break and the lively Paul McAreavey had claims for a penalty although Forde appeared to have nicked the ball off the Blues midfielder's toe.

Not the first time during the evening, Pat McCourt broke into a threatening position in the 68th minute but McShane did well to clear the ball away for a corner.

O'Flynn ran onto to long clearances deep into Blues territory in the closing stages but on both occasions, he was unable to find an unmarked team-mate.

In injury-time, Derry substitute Kevin McHugh had the ball in the Linfield net but the effort was correctly ruled out for offside.

Linfield still had time for a penalty appeal with the noisy home support convinced tnat Peter Hutton had handled in the area but referee Adrian McCourt waved play on.

We didn't pass the ball well enough after half-time Derry manager Stephen Kenny

Blues manager David Jeffrey felt a number of the referee's decisions had gone against his team during the game.

"I've got to be careful about what I say but you could listen to the crowd and think what they thought about some of those decisions," said Jeffrey, who praised the commitment of his players.

"A draw was probably a fair result but we certainly felt a few decisions went against us."

Derry boss Stephen Kenny said he was disappointed with the outcome.

"In the first half, we had quite a few chances. We probably didn't pass the ball well enough after half-time," Kenny told BBC Sport.

"We probably lacked a bit of composure and if we have shown a bit more, we probably would have won."

The historic occasion passed off without a hint of trouble and both teams will now look ahead to the return game at the Brandywell on 27 March.