Goals in each half by Greg Bolger and Morgan Langley helped St Patrick’s Athletic overcome a disappointing Derry City by 2-0 at Richmond Park.
Having lost two of their opening three fixtures, it was imperative that the hosts start on the front foot, and they did, with Aaron Greene heading narrowly over from James Chambers’s cross in the 10th minute.
Chambers was next to go close, his low shot forcing Gerard Doherty to scramble at his near post.
Doherty was not so fortunate in the 35th minute, when Bolger’s audacious attempt from 45 yards proved too precise. Doherty needed lengthy treatment in the immediate aftermath and was replaced by Shaun Patton.
The half finished with chances at both ends. Athletic’s Ian Bermingham made a superb last-ditch tackle to deny Philip Lowry while Greene’s shot was blocked after a lively counter-attack launched by Conan Byrne.
The second-half resumed in a similar vein of home dominance, as both Bolger and Greene threatened to double their side’s advantage while Lowry was denied by a block from Kenny Browne.
After Bermingham went close with a low drive in the 75th minute, the points were made safe when substitute Morgan Langley headed home from a Byrne free-kick.
