DERRY CITY’S WAIT for an SSE Airtricity Premier Divison victory goes on as the Candystripes were held to a draw in an action-packed encounter against reigning champions St Patrick’s Athletic at Brandywell Stadium, which really could have gone either way.
Roddy Collins’ troops were unlucky not to take maximum points in the dying embers of the game when Michael Duffy’s close range strike was deflected narrowly over the crossbar by goalkeeper Brendan Clarke, but on the balance of play, both managers would be content with the share of the spoils.
Both sides had plenty of opportunities to take a much-needed three points in either half, but Gerard Doherty twice denied the impressive Chris Forrester, while Rory Patterson should have scored a late winner, but the Derry striker blasted over from 12 yards.
Collins had made three changes to team which drew at Drogheda in United Park, with Ryan McBride, Patrick McEleney and Doherty restored to the starting line-up.
For the Super Saints, centre half Kenny Browne passed a pre-match fitness test but the game came too soon for the injured Keith Fahy.
It was a lively opening to the game as the visiting defence charged down strikes from Patrick McEleney and Danny Ventre during a promising venture forward from the City attack on 10 minutes started by Duffy, who seemed high on confidence after signing his one-year contract extension.
Chris Forrester’s long-range shot had Doherty in trouble two minutes later, and when the Derry stopper parried into the path of Fagan, the striker scuffed his shot from 12 yards before going to ground under pressure from Ryan McBride. The home lot survived appeals for a penalty from Fagan as the referee waved away the protests and the danger was cleared.
It was end to end and when Mark Stewart ran inside from the right wing and drove his cross towards the back post, but neither Rory Patterson or Dean Jarvis were able to get that vital touch.
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Killian Brennan tried his luck with a low drive towards Doherty’s far corner on 35 minutes and the Derry goalkeeper just about managed to deal with it and turn it behind for a corner.
Doherty needed to be alert once again five minutes before the interval, when the lively Forrester ran unchallenged toward goal before unleashing a well-struck shot which the Derry keeper parried clear. Conan Byrne picked up the pieces and crossed towards the back post, but Forrester’s tame header went harmlessly wide.
St Pat’s shaded the opening 45 minutes in terms of gilt-edged chances but either side could have gone into the interval in the lead, but Fagan’s tumble inside the Derry area was certainly the major talking point of the half.
Derry started the second half on the front-foot, but it was St Pat’s who came closest to opening the scoring when Forrester’s powerful strike was saved by Doherty. The rebound then fell kindly to the Saints’ midfielder and his second strike on goal was deflected off the back of Cliff Byrne’s back and sailed over the crossbar.
Sean Hoare headed over the Derry bar from Killian Brennan’s free-kick on the edge of the penalty area as the visitors began to grow into the game with 30 minutes remaining.
The home side really should have taken the lead with nine minutes to go when Mark Stewart raced down the right flank and pulled the ball back to Patterson who had peeled off his marker, but the striker wildly blasted his shot over the crossbar.
St Pat’s responded and Fagan skimmed the top of the Derry Crossbar with a powerful volley moments later.
Both sides were really going for the win at this stage, and Dean Jarvis should have found the target from Danny Ventre’s inswinging free-kick, but the defender put his header wide at the back post.
Derry pressed for the winner in the closing minutes of the game and were desperately unlucky not to snatch a winning goal when Duffy latched onto Jarvis’ pass, but his shot bounced over the crossbar after a deflection off the keeper.
DERRY CITY: G. Doherty; R. Collins, R. McBride (A. Barry, 76), C. Byrne (c), D. Jarvis; M. Stewart, B. Molloy, D. Ventre, M. Duffy; P. McEleney (E. Curran 58), R. Patterson.
Subs Not Used – C. Gallagher, D. Elebert, M. Timlin, J.P. McGovern, R, Curran.
ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC: B. Clarke; G. O’Brien, K. Oman (S. Hoare, 29), K. Browne, I. Bermingham; C. Byrne, G. Bolger, K. Brennan, C. Forrester, M. Quigley (J. Chambers 60); C. Fagan.
Subs Not Used – P. Jennings, L. Lynch,C. McCormick, L. Fitzgerald, D. Kavanagh.
Derry remain winless but earn point at home to Pat's
Derry City 0
St. Patrick’s Athletic 0
DERRY CITY’S WAIT for an SSE Airtricity Premier Divison victory goes on as the Candystripes were held to a draw in an action-packed encounter against reigning champions St Patrick’s Athletic at Brandywell Stadium, which really could have gone either way.
Roddy Collins’ troops were unlucky not to take maximum points in the dying embers of the game when Michael Duffy’s close range strike was deflected narrowly over the crossbar by goalkeeper Brendan Clarke, but on the balance of play, both managers would be content with the share of the spoils.
Both sides had plenty of opportunities to take a much-needed three points in either half, but Gerard Doherty twice denied the impressive Chris Forrester, while Rory Patterson should have scored a late winner, but the Derry striker blasted over from 12 yards.
Collins had made three changes to team which drew at Drogheda in United Park, with Ryan McBride, Patrick McEleney and Doherty restored to the starting line-up.
For the Super Saints, centre half Kenny Browne passed a pre-match fitness test but the game came too soon for the injured Keith Fahy.
It was a lively opening to the game as the visiting defence charged down strikes from Patrick McEleney and Danny Ventre during a promising venture forward from the City attack on 10 minutes started by Duffy, who seemed high on confidence after signing his one-year contract extension.
Chris Forrester’s long-range shot had Doherty in trouble two minutes later, and when the Derry stopper parried into the path of Fagan, the striker scuffed his shot from 12 yards before going to ground under pressure from Ryan McBride. The home lot survived appeals for a penalty from Fagan as the referee waved away the protests and the danger was cleared.
It was end to end and when Mark Stewart ran inside from the right wing and drove his cross towards the back post, but neither Rory Patterson or Dean Jarvis were able to get that vital touch.
Killian Brennan tried his luck with a low drive towards Doherty’s far corner on 35 minutes and the Derry goalkeeper just about managed to deal with it and turn it behind for a corner.
Doherty needed to be alert once again five minutes before the interval, when the lively Forrester ran unchallenged toward goal before unleashing a well-struck shot which the Derry keeper parried clear. Conan Byrne picked up the pieces and crossed towards the back post, but Forrester’s tame header went harmlessly wide.
St Pat’s shaded the opening 45 minutes in terms of gilt-edged chances but either side could have gone into the interval in the lead, but Fagan’s tumble inside the Derry area was certainly the major talking point of the half.
Derry started the second half on the front-foot, but it was St Pat’s who came closest to opening the scoring when Forrester’s powerful strike was saved by Doherty. The rebound then fell kindly to the Saints’ midfielder and his second strike on goal was deflected off the back of Cliff Byrne’s back and sailed over the crossbar.
Sean Hoare headed over the Derry bar from Killian Brennan’s free-kick on the edge of the penalty area as the visitors began to grow into the game with 30 minutes remaining.
The home side really should have taken the lead with nine minutes to go when Mark Stewart raced down the right flank and pulled the ball back to Patterson who had peeled off his marker, but the striker wildly blasted his shot over the crossbar.
St Pat’s responded and Fagan skimmed the top of the Derry Crossbar with a powerful volley moments later.
Both sides were really going for the win at this stage, and Dean Jarvis should have found the target from Danny Ventre’s inswinging free-kick, but the defender put his header wide at the back post.
Derry pressed for the winner in the closing minutes of the game and were desperately unlucky not to snatch a winning goal when Duffy latched onto Jarvis’ pass, but his shot bounced over the crossbar after a deflection off the keeper.
Subs Not Used – C. Gallagher, D. Elebert, M. Timlin, J.P. McGovern, R, Curran.
Referee - Paul McLaughlin (Monaghan).
Aitricity League Premier Division results
Athlone Town 0 – 3 Cork City
Bray Wanderers 3 – 5 UCD
Derry City 0 – 0 St. Patrick’s Athletic
Dundalk 1 – 1 Bohemians
Limerick 0 – 1 Drogheda United
Shamrock Rovers 1 – 0 Sligo
‘Roddy will have Derry fired up as the champions are coming to town’ – Mark Quigley
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SSE Airtricity League Premier Division Football LOI Report Soccer Derry City