Ruaidhrí Higgins applauds Will Patching: 'He's one of those players, he just oozes class'

Seán O’Connor reports from the Belfield Bowl.

Derry City went six points clear at the top of the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division on Monday night, following a 2-0 win over a stubborn UCD side at the Bowl.

It was Derry’s second win in the capital in four days, after James Akintunde’s last minute header snatched three points against Bohemians last Friday. Ruaidhrí Higgins’ men are now unbeaten in the league as it approaches the quarter mark of the season.

One man who has been vital to Derry’s impressive start is Will Patching. After impressing on his loan spell in the first half of last year, the 23-year-old signed a 2-year deal last November.

Patching’s spectacular free kick against UCD was his fourth strike in eight games. Higgins praised the impact the creative  midfielder has made at the Brandywell.

"He's class,” Higgins told extratime.com.

“Rennie gives me a bit of stick because he thinks he's my blue-eyed boy. He's a really exceptional footballer. It's strange when you win a free kick you are quite confident this could end up in the back of the net.

"He's one of those players. He just oozes class. As dominant as we were for periods, it took a bit of magic from a dead ball to get us in front."

Despite Derry’s stellar start to 2022, Higgins says he won’t be getting carried away so early in the season. That said, many are tipping the Candystripes to challenge the Champions Shamrock Rovers later in the year. Derry have not won the Premier Division since 1997 and were last runners up in 2006.

"I think what it does show is the character in the group,” he said.



“It's difficult coming to Dublin twice in four days and picking up six points, but it's a really good habit. There is a good togetherness in the group.

"Listen, it's very, very early days to be talking about where we are in the table. We are just focusing on performances at the minute and trying to keep this wee bit of momentum that we have going."

Higgins was delighted that his side kept patient on Monday night, as they came up against a dogged UCD side. The visitors hit the woodwork three times and had a goal disallowed before Patching broke the deadlock.

"Our performance was quite good, and we were happy where we were at half time. We should have been in front, and we hit the woodwork three times before we scored while Jamie McGonigle missed a one on one and Matty Smith missed a good chance .

"We kept doing the right things and the players never got flustered. Then Will produced a piece of magic and does something that Will does, it gets us in front. We kicked on from there and got a good second goal and we were quite comfortable in seeing the game out."

Derry are on the road for the third consecutive time next Saturday, as they face Finn Harps, looking to make it nine unbeaten.



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