Soccer

Honours even at Brandywell between Derry City and St Pat's

&nbsp;Rory Patterson opened the scoring for Derry City<br />Picture by Margaret McLaughlin
 Rory Patterson opened the scoring for Derry City
Picture by Margaret McLaughlin
 Rory Patterson opened the scoring for Derry City
Picture by Margaret McLaughlin

League of Ireland Premier Division: Derry City 1 St Patrick's Athletic 1

DON'T let the score-line surprise you, as this was an action packed, exciting affair, with the correct score-line.

Both Derry and St Pat's created chances and in truth the woodwork and some smart goalkeeping made neither team could be separated. 

Derry were forced into making two changes from the side which lost to Limerick in the EA Sports Cup, with centre-half pairing Ryan McBride and Aaron Barry both missing out through injury.

That meant that Harry Monaghan, who normal plays in midfield, dropped into centre-back alongside Niclas Vemmelund and Conor McDermott also came into the starting line-up at right-back.

City started on the front foot and scored a fantastic team goal on 10 minutes.

Some neat inter play by Aaron McEneff, Conor McCormack and Barry McNamee, ended with the ball finding Rory Patterson just inside the box and his left footed strike flew past St Pat's keeper Brendan Clarke.

Moments later the Dubliners were inches away from equalising by Billy Dennehy's curling effort from just inside the box, which had keeper Gerard Doherty beaten, flashed just wide.

Soon after the woodwork denied City as Lukas Schubert's 25 yard effort was superbly tipped onto the bar by a full stretched Clarke.

On 18 minutes some clever footwork by McEneff meant he got some space inside the St Pat's box, but his right footed effort drifted just past the post.

Liam Buckley's side drew level on 24 minutes after a fantastic counter attack which Keith Tracey, finished off superbly, slotting the ball between Doherty's legs from the left hand side of the box.

St Pat's now with their tails up would have scored a second on 28 minutes but for a great instinctive save by Doherty. 

Ger O'Brien's right wing cross to the back post found an sliding Sean Hoare, but his effort while on the stretch was kept out by Doherty.

On 40 minutes Doherty came to his side's rescue again this time he kept out Christy Fagan's close range strike, after Monaghan's attempted clearance fell perfect to the striker inside the box.

Just after the hour mark City, who started the second half the better of the sides, went close but Barry McNamee's 25 yard drive fizzed wide.

St Pat's missed a great chance to take the lead on 74 minutes as Billy Dennehy broke in behind the City defence, but not for the first time Doherty made a top draw save, to deny the winger.

In the closing stages Fagan saw his close range header flash just wide, after Billy Dennehy's cross had picked out the striker.

Deep into stoppage time Derry thought they had won it but Niclas Vemmelund's powerful header flew just wide.

Meanwhile, Finn Harps dropped down a place into ninth after they were leap-frogged by a Bohemians side that recorded a 2-0 win at Dalymount Park.

After a goalless first half, Jake Kelly opened the scoring for Bohemians after 67 minutes and the result was put beyond doubt three minutes from time when Ismahil Akinade found the net.

Derry City: Doherty, McDermott, Vemmelund, Monaghan, Jarvis; McCormack, McEneff; Schubert (Boyle 61), McNamee (Doherty 86), Daniels (Curtis 70); Patterson.

St Patrick's Athletic: Clarke, O'Brien, D Dennehy, Hoare, Bermingham; Cawley (Kelly 19), Tracey (Verdon 81), Timlin; Byrne (Kinsella 70), Fagan, B Dennehy.


Referee: Mr Paul Tuite (Dublin)