Derry City returned to the top of the eircom League Premier Division following a 2-0 win over St Patrick’s Athletic at The Brandywell this evening.
Goals from Peter Hutton and Clive Delaney sent Derry one point clear of Cork City at the summit and set up a winner take all end of season encounter with Cork at Turner’s Cross next Friday night.
There was plenty of action from the start and St Pat’s received a let-off after just four minutes when Barry Prenderville pulled down Mark Farren on the edge of the penalty box but played was waved on.
At the other end three minutes later, Derry’s Sean Hargan superbly dispossessed Stephen Quigley on the right win before the youngster could float a cross into the area.
Pat’s stand in ‘keeper Brendan Clarke was called into action for the first time on eight minutes when he blocked a half chance from Farren.
Play has halted for a time on 13 minutes following a clash of heads between Pat’s John Frost and Derry’s Stephen O’Flynn.
Clarke showed great confidence to come out of his goal and claim a dangerous ball on 17 minutes.
On 21, Derry ‘keeper David Forde took two attempts to punch a Ger Rowe header over the bar.
Frost came to Pat’s rescue on 28 when he blocked a Ciaran Martyn effort but Derry continued to push for the opener and it finally came on the half hour mark when Peter Hutton met a knockdown from Clive Delaney, after a Pat McCourt corner from the left, and turned the ball past Clarke.
It was two just eight minutes later when Clive Delaney met a Kevin Derry corner and headed past Clarke from close range.
Pat McCourt nearly made it three on 37 but his strike hit an upright.
Quigley made a vital interception five minutes into the second period to prevent McCourt getting his head to a cross on the edge of the Pat’s box.
A minutes after that Pat’s had a chance to get back into the game but Alan Reilly’s cracking shot hit the crossbar after Forde got the faintest of touches on the ball.
McCourt broke free on 53 but struck his shot straight at Clarke. On 60, McCourt departed the play to be replaced by Killian Brennan.
On 70, Clarke to got down well to deny Farren, who shot from the right of the area.
Teams:
Derry City: Forde, McCallion, Delaney, Hutton, Horgan, McGlynn, Deery, Martyn, McCourt (K Brennan 60), O’Flynn (Beckett 64), Farren (Murphy 89).
St Pat’s: Clarke, Quigley, Prenderville, Maguire, Frost, S Brennan, Perth (Maher h/t), M Foley, Reilly (O’Connor 68), Doyle (Larsen h/t), Rowe. Booked: Maher 58.
Referee: Declan Hanney (Dublin).
