Derry City stopped the rot of successive defeats with their first clean sheet of the season in frustrating in-form St Patrick's Athletic at Richmond Park.
In a generally poor game of few clearcut chances, the stalemate ended St Pat’s four-match winning run as Derry finally made some capital gain having already lost to Bohemians, Shamrock Rovers and Shelbourne this season.
Looking for a reaction to Friday’s poor performance in defeat at home to Shels, Derry started confidently with Darragh Markey mining the game’s first opening for Barry Cotter whose shot was cleared.
Working hard to play their way into the game, Saints threatened for the first time on 16 minutes, Sean Hoare heading over from a James Brown corner.
Moments later Candystripes’ Ed Beach was the first keeper to see action, ably dealing with Jay McClelland’s shot from distance.
Skilful play by Barry Baggley and Romal Palmer then set up Aidan Keena whose powerful shot struck defender Jamie Stott before Baggley drilled a shot just wide.
Back at the other end, clever play by Cotter set up skipper Michael Duffy whose shot was swept away by Joe Redmond.
In a similar pattern to the first 45 minutes, Derry started the second half on the front foot.
But an early talking point arrived with Saints having a big shout for a penalty not entertained when Palmer appeared to be fouled by Patrick McClean.
To the consternation of the home faithful, referee Rob Harvey awarded a free out.
Beach then saved at the feet of Brown following Jay McClelland’s cross as St Pat’s got right on top.
In a bizarre incident on 70 minutes, Derry made a quadruple substitution, but only three players initially came off in a mix-up with the fourth official.
The game restarted before being stopped with Markey eventually also leaving the pitch.
Saints maintained the pressure on the Derry goal with Hoare bouncing a downward header wide from Baggley's corner.
A mistake by Hoare then gifted Derry their chief sight of goal of the second half minutes later.
Substitute Josh Thomas skipped in behind but his shot lacked conviction as Joseph Anang made an easy save.
Back at the other end, Saints continued to press for a winner, skipper Redmond volleying over late on all but compounding their frustration.
St Patrick’s Athletic: Joseph Anang; Joe Redmond, Sean Hoare, Luke Turner; James Brown, Darragh Nugent, Barry Baggley, Romal Palmer, Jay McClelland (Anto Breslin 79); Aidan Keena (Max Mata 66); Ryan Edmondson (Glory Nzingo 66).
Derry City: Ed Beach; Alex Bannon, Jamie Stott, Patrick McClean; Barry Cotter (Conor Barr 70), James Olayinha, James McClean, Brandon Fleming; Darragh Markey (James Clarke 70), Michael Duffy (Adam O'Reilly 70); Akinyemi 'Dipo’ Afolabi (Josh Thomas 70) .
Referee: Rob Harvey (Dublin).
Attendance: 4.502.
