Derry City 1-0 St Patrick's Athletic

• Ciaran Duffy
• Wed, Jun 03 2009


Gareth McGlynn scored the only goal of the game in the 75th minute for Derry City to take all three points against St Patrick's Athletic at the Brandywell tonight keeping the pressure on Bohemians and Cork City.

The Candystripes started the brighter team in this clash and had their first attack on three minutes when McGlynn made a decent break but was stopped by a foul on the edge of the box. On seven minutes it was Mark Farren who had the home faithful on their feet as he swung in a fantastic cross but it was met by nobody in the box.

McGlynn was causing problems for the Pat's shortly before the quarter hour mark and he was the only player who stood out in a drab first half. His industry and skill earned a corner from which Clive Delaney was disappointed to see his header cleared all but off the line.

St Pat's responded quickly as they tried to assert themselves into the game. Regaining some composure and shape, the visitors began to pull together and found some space on the counter but Harris fired over after a quick break stretched Derry. However, the visitors had to have a re-think however midway through the half when Darragh Ryan picked up an injury after an awkward tackle and was replaced by Enda Stevens.

Clive Delaney, on an unlikely and rare venture up the field, was surprised to find himself with a shooting opportunity after an intrepid run through the middle but Gary Rogers saved the big defender’s effort on the half hour mark.

The drab half ended with a handful of yellow cards keeping the referee busy as Stephen Gray, Mark Farren and Mark Quigley all went in the little black book - Gray for a cynical foul, Farren for a dive after beating custodian Rogers to a short backpass and Quigley for petulantly kicking the ball away.

For much of the second half there was very little for either side to get excited about as the game fizzled out. Derry lacked ideas and St Pat’s lacked endeavour although Ryan Guy ran tirelessly. Stephen Kenny decided to change bringing off David Scullion and sent in Tam McManus for the last twenty minutes, Mark Farren moved out to the left to accommodate the Scot. And indeed it was from the left that the break through finally came.

Farren found Stephen Gray on the overlap and the lanky defender showed enough composure to hit the byline before cutting the ball across the six yard box. It looked too good a chance to miss, however, the ball eluded defenders and forwards alike before popping out in front of the advancing, omnipotent, Gareth McGlynn. He gratefully tapped the ball home into a mostly open net as Rogers scrambled across but it was too late.

So Derry closed the gap on Cork in second place as Doolin’s men drop points on a visit to his old home while Bohs cement their place at the top with a home win over the Tribesmen.

Derry City: Doherty; McCallion, Delaney, Hutton, Gray; McGlynn, Higgins, Deery, Scullion (McManus, 69 mins); Morrow, Farren (McClean, 88)

St Patrick's Athletic: Rogers; Maher, Partridge, Gavin, Ryan (Stevens, 18 mins); Guy, Lynch, Byrne, O'Connor; Quigley (Moran, 50), Harris (Haran, 84)

Referee: D Tomney (Dublin)

Man of the Match: Gareth McGlynn – capped off a fine performance with the only goal of the game