St Patrick's Athletic 2 - 1 Derry City
Credit:
Another poor crowd at Richmond Road on Monday night witnessed St Patrick's Athletic defeat Cup finalists Derry City by two goals to one. The result confirms both sides final league positions. Pats claim the runner up spot behind Bohemians, and Derry have to be happy with third.
Derry boss Stephen Kenny made a couple of changes to the side that drew one all at Tolka Park on Friday. Sammie Morrow, Niall McGinn, and Mark Farren were all rested to the bench, while Peter Hutton came into the side at centre back, with Mark McCrystal moving to the left back position. Billy Dehenny was handed a rare start on the left wing, and Kevin Deery returned from suspension.
Early in the game, Damien Lynch tried his luck from thirty yards with an ambitious volley, but the ball ended up well over Ger Doherty's crossbar. Derek O'Brien should have then done better on ten minutes. He ghosted into the box behind Kevin Deery, and although he connected sweetly with his head, his effort met with the same fate as Lynch's earlier attempt.
The Candystripes failed to create any openings of note in the first period, despite having what was probably an equal share of possession.
The home side took the lead six minutes before the break. Keith Fahey received a corner short from Alan Kirby. Fahey beat his man and fired a left footed shot into the bottom corner of the net past Doherty.
Pats very nearly made it two on the stroke of half time. Mark Quigley, with his back to goal in the area, cleverly diverted a low cross into the path of Ryan Guy. The American opted to strike it first time, and only a fantastic one handed save from Doherty prevented the winger from scoring his ninth league goal of the season.
A Fahey free kick early in the second half caused the Derry defence all kinds of problems. The ball dipped viciously on its way into the box, leaving a handful of Derry defenders flat footed. Jason Gavin reacted quickly, but Doherty somehow managed to grab the ball on the crowded goal line.
Deery was moved into a central position, and from there he twice found the time and space to get away shots at goal from outside the box. The first stung the palms of Barry Ryan, while the second took a nick off a Pats defender and ended up narrowly wide of the upright.
A Quigley penalty seven minutes from time made the three points certain for Johnny McDonnell's side, even though substitute Farren netted in injury time after a blunder by Ryan.
St Patrick's Athletic: Barry Ryan; Damien Lynch, David Partridge, Dave Rogers, Joe O'Cearuill; Ryan Guy, Keith Fahey, Alan Kirby, Derek O'Brien (Jaroslaw Bialek 84); Jason Gavin, Mark Quigley.
Subs not used: Lance Friesz, Stephen Fitzpatrick.
Derry City: Ger Doherty; Eddie McCallion, Peter Hutton (Sammy Morrow 76), Clive Delaney, Mark McChrystal; Ruaidhri Higgins, Barry Molloy (Mark Farren 65), Kevin Deery, Billy Dennehy (Niall McGinn 46); Kevin McHugh, Thomas Stewart.
Subs not used: Darren Quigley, Ciaran Martyn.
Referee: Richie Winter.
