DERRY CITY CLOSED out their season with a comfortable win over St Patrick’s Athletic at Richmond Park tonight.
It’s been a very good campaign for the Foylesiders, who improved their league position by four places from 2015 to finish in third and qualify for next season’s Europa League.
Rory Patterson has fired them into Europe and he was to the fore against St Pat’s, as he scored twice to leave his league total for the season at 17.
The hosts failed to ever really get going and they will disappointed they didn’t fully test Shaun Patton in the Derry goal, with their subdued performance following a good result on Tuesday night against Dundalk indicative of their season.
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Coming into the game, St Pat’s knew that a victory could see them secure fifth spot, but Derry put paid to those hopes as they looked intent on seeing out their own season with three points.
Jamie McGrath was the only change to the Pat’s side that dismantled the champions second string while young goalkeeper Patton was given a start for Derry and he looked uncertain under a couple of early crosses. He almost gifted Pat’s the lead on nine minutes when he fumbled a delivery but Sean Hoare couldn’t sort out his feet quick enough to take advantage.
The game then sprung to life mid-way through the first period when the hosts had a chance through Conan Byrne who headed just over and then Patterson had a great opening as he rounded Brendan Clarke but saw his shot cleared off the line by Hoare.
Moments later, however, Patterson did open his account. Rory Holden got in behind the Pat’s defence down the left after a penetrating run and he pulled back to the unmarked striker, who expertly finished low into the net.
The Candystripes’ top scorer should’ve added to his tally just past the hour mark when he deceived the Pat’s cover brilliantly to sprint through one-on-one with Clarke. His deft chip looking destined for the top corner, but instead hit the crossbar, and Holden was unable to direct the rebound on target.
Patterson could’ve easily had a hat-trick by the conclusion of the first 45 minutes, as he found himself free at the backpost just before the break, but couldn’t make a clean connection with his half volley that bounced wide.
Derry continued to control possession after the interval and looked content to sit on their lead.
Pat’s couldn’t create any meaningful chances until late on, when substitute Dylan McGlade was found by Hoare after a neat chip over the top, but he couldn’t get his shot off.
Shortly thereafter, their last chance of rescuing a point went when Ian Bermingham headed over from a Christy Fagan cross.
Then, in added time, Rory Feely saw red for a last-man challenge on Patterson in the box, with the Derry striker slotting the resulting spot-kick safely in to the corner.
St Patrick’s Athletic: Brendan Clarke; Ger O’Brien, Rory Feely, Sean Hoare, Ian Bermingham; Sam Verdon, Jonathan Lunney, Conan Byrne (Dylan McGlade, 77), Jamie McGrath (Fuad Saul, 68), Steven Kinsella (Darragh Markey, 63); Christy Fagan.
Derry City: Shaun Patton; Conor McDermott (Scott Whiteside, 90), Dean Jarvis, Niclas Vemmelund, Ben Doherty; Barry McNamee, Conor McCormack, Rory Holden (Keith Ward, 41), Harry Monaghan, Josh Daniels (Nathan Boyle, 75); Rory Patterson
Referee: Rob Rogers
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Derry conclude superb campaign in fitting fashion
St Patrick’s Athletic 0
Derry City 2
DERRY CITY CLOSED out their season with a comfortable win over St Patrick’s Athletic at Richmond Park tonight.
It’s been a very good campaign for the Foylesiders, who improved their league position by four places from 2015 to finish in third and qualify for next season’s Europa League.
Rory Patterson has fired them into Europe and he was to the fore against St Pat’s, as he scored twice to leave his league total for the season at 17.
The hosts failed to ever really get going and they will disappointed they didn’t fully test Shaun Patton in the Derry goal, with their subdued performance following a good result on Tuesday night against Dundalk indicative of their season.
Coming into the game, St Pat’s knew that a victory could see them secure fifth spot, but Derry put paid to those hopes as they looked intent on seeing out their own season with three points.
Jamie McGrath was the only change to the Pat’s side that dismantled the champions second string while young goalkeeper Patton was given a start for Derry and he looked uncertain under a couple of early crosses. He almost gifted Pat’s the lead on nine minutes when he fumbled a delivery but Sean Hoare couldn’t sort out his feet quick enough to take advantage.
The game then sprung to life mid-way through the first period when the hosts had a chance through Conan Byrne who headed just over and then Patterson had a great opening as he rounded Brendan Clarke but saw his shot cleared off the line by Hoare.
Moments later, however, Patterson did open his account. Rory Holden got in behind the Pat’s defence down the left after a penetrating run and he pulled back to the unmarked striker, who expertly finished low into the net.
The Candystripes’ top scorer should’ve added to his tally just past the hour mark when he deceived the Pat’s cover brilliantly to sprint through one-on-one with Clarke. His deft chip looking destined for the top corner, but instead hit the crossbar, and Holden was unable to direct the rebound on target.
Patterson could’ve easily had a hat-trick by the conclusion of the first 45 minutes, as he found himself free at the backpost just before the break, but couldn’t make a clean connection with his half volley that bounced wide.
Derry continued to control possession after the interval and looked content to sit on their lead.
Pat’s couldn’t create any meaningful chances until late on, when substitute Dylan McGlade was found by Hoare after a neat chip over the top, but he couldn’t get his shot off.
Shortly thereafter, their last chance of rescuing a point went when Ian Bermingham headed over from a Christy Fagan cross.
Then, in added time, Rory Feely saw red for a last-man challenge on Patterson in the box, with the Derry striker slotting the resulting spot-kick safely in to the corner.
St Patrick’s Athletic: Brendan Clarke; Ger O’Brien, Rory Feely, Sean Hoare, Ian Bermingham; Sam Verdon, Jonathan Lunney, Conan Byrne (Dylan McGlade, 77), Jamie McGrath (Fuad Saul, 68), Steven Kinsella (Darragh Markey, 63); Christy Fagan.
Derry City: Shaun Patton; Conor McDermott (Scott Whiteside, 90), Dean Jarvis, Niclas Vemmelund, Ben Doherty; Barry McNamee, Conor McCormack, Rory Holden (Keith Ward, 41), Harry Monaghan, Josh Daniels (Nathan Boyle, 75); Rory Patterson
Referee: Rob Rogers
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Jamie McGrath Report Rory Patterson success Derry City St Patrick's