IT’S certainly been a bad week for Derry City, the ‘Candy Stripes’ defeated twice in the space of four days in both the Setanta Cup and, last night at the Brandywell, losing at home to fellow Premier Division Championship challengers, St. Patrick’s Athletic.
And Derry can have no complaints with this defeat as the extremely well organised and disciplined Dubliners frustrated he home lot with work ethic and fitness.
With both teams cancelling each other out in what was a flooded midfield, it came as no surprise that goalscoring chances would be at a premium and it was St. Pat’s who netted the vital opening near the end of the first period.
In what proved a lively first-half, St. Pat's stunned the big Brandywell crowd when breaking the deadlock in the 40th minute.
And from a Derry City point of view, it was a particularly disappointing goal to concede, the 'Candy Stripes' undone from a set-piece situation for the second time in four days.
Joseph Ndo won the corner on the right and when John Frost curled the ball into the near post, Anthony Murphy's unchecked run saw the midfielder glance the ball to the net.
But the visitors certainly could have broken the deadlock earlier with Derry keeper, Pat Jennings, superbly denying Mark Quigley on two occasions.
With Paddy McCourt causing the Pat's defence no shortage of problems on the left-side of midfield, the home side went close in the 27th minute when Sean Hargan's cut-back was parried by Pat's keeper, Barry Ryan, before Ciaran Martyn's attempt to force the rebound home was blocked a defender.
Derry's woes were compounded one minute before the break when full-back, Sean Hargan, appeared to land awkwardly on his ankle and was forced to retire with Greg O'Halloran entering the fray.
One goal to the good, St. Pat’s were always happy to play a containing role after the break and the inclusion of David Mulcahy at the expense of Alan Kirby confirmed that point in the 62nd minute.
And with scoring chances at a premium due to what has always been a flooded midfield, the home side were finding it very difficult to get in behind the Pat’s defence.
Indeed, during another swift counter-attack Pat’s could have ended this match as a contest when Mark Quigley forced an opening but his low shot was parried and saved by Jennings.
With 10 minutes remaining, McCourt got in behind the visiting defence and his low pass across the face of goal threatened but there was no Derry player on the end it.
And St. Pat’s had another chance to kill it in the 88th minute but substitute, Sean O’Connor’s shot, was saved by Jennings.
Derry City - Jennings; McCallion, Kelly, Hutton, Hargan (O'Halloran, 45 mins.); McGlynn, Martyn (Farren, 58 mins.), Molloy (Higgins, 62 mins.), Deery, McCourt; McHugh.
St. Pat's Athletic - Ryan; C. Foley, Brennan, Paisley; Murphy, Kirby (Mulcahy, 62 mins.), Ndo, Fahey (O’Connor, 72 mins.), Frost; O'Neill (Maguire, 86 mins.), Quigley.
Referee - Mr. I. Stokes (Dublin).
