Derry City's lacklustre SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division form continued as they had to settle for a scoreless draw against title chasing St Patrick's Athletic at Find Insurance Celtic Park.
Stephen Kenny's Saints were disappointing for long periods and struggled to find any rhythm on the poor surface.
As for City, they will be disappointed that they didn't claim the points, as they had the best chances in the contest with Kevin dos Santos and Henry Rylah both missing chances.
City winger James McClean, who returned from injury to make his 100th appearance for his hometown club, went close early on, but his header flew past the post.
Saints goalkeeper Joseph Anang had to make a top drawer save on 13 minutes as Adam O'Reilly's clever pass found Dos Santos, who cut in from the right before seeing his close-range sidefooted strike superbly tipped around his right hand post by the Ghanaian international.
Right on the stroke of half-time Derry missed a glorious chance to break the deadlock as McClean's inswinging corner from the right was whipped into the six yard box but Conor Barr could only divert the ball wide of the left-hand post.
Early in the second half a tremendous 60-yard lung-bursting run by Kian Leavy saw him break clear down the right before his teasing cross flashed just in front of an unmarked Ryan Edmondson at the back post.
Anang was called into action again on 57 minutes but Brandon Fleming's long-range strike was straight at the Saints keeper.
Moments later O'Reilly did well to break clear down the right before his clipped cross found an unmarked James Olayinka, but the midfielder fluffed his lines and his miss hit effort was easily held by Anang.
The visitors first shot on target came on 75 minutes as substitute Romal Palmer found Leavy, but the talented midfielder's well hit shot from 10 yards was turned over by City net-minder Eddie Beach.
Derry missed a glorious chance to win the contest as Barry Cotter's long throw-in from the right found an unmarked Rylah, but the substitute's mishit effort from six yards was straight at Anang.
Derry City: Eddie Beach, Barry Cotter, Conor Barr, Jamie Stott, Brandon Fleming; Adam O'Reilly, Cameron Dummigan (Darragh Markey 73), James Olayinka; Kevin Dos Santos, James Clarke (Josh Thomas 81), James McClean (Henry Rylah 60)
St Patrick's Athletic: Joseph Anang, Tom Grivosti, Joe Redmond, Luke Turner; James Browne (Barry Baggley 60), Jamie Lennon, Chris Forrester (Romal Palmer 72), Darragh Nugent, Zack Elbouzedi (Anthony Breslin 60); Kian Leavy, Ryan Edmondson (Aidan Keena 81)
Referee: Aaron O'Dowd (Dublin)
