St Patrick's A 1 Derry C 1:DERRY CITY snatched the point they needed to secure European football for next season after 90 minutes of thrills and spills at Richmond Park.
Seán O’Connor put St Pat’s ahead on the half hour but St Pat’s keeper Chris Bennion gifted Stephen McLaughlin the equaliser on 73 minutes. Stephen Bradley could have won it for Pat’s on 90 minutes but his penalty crashed off the post.
St Pat’s manager Pete Mahon made six changes to the side that lost to Shelbourne in Monday night’s FAI Cup semi-final replay and his team showed more confidence and determination than had been on show in that cup match.
Bennion, in for the suspended Gary Rogers after his dismissal against Shelbourne, had an early scare when his clearance cannoned off defender Evan McMillan on six minutes, but he cleared the ball before the advancing Eamon Zayed could get his foot to it.
St Pat’s had their first chance on 11 minutes when Dave Mulcahy put O’Connor through on the left, but Danny Lafferty raced back to clear O’Connor’s shot off the line.
Pat’s went close again on 25 minutes when O’Connor was denied by Derry goalkeeper Ger Doherty.
St Pat’s continued to push forward and O’Connor eventually got the better of Doherty on the half hour when he collected David McMillan’s ball and chipped a superb left-footed effort over the advancing Doherty and into the net from the right, 20 yards out.
Pat’s started the second half in much the same positive manner that they had conducted themselves in the first half but missed an excellent opportunity to double the lead on 56 minutes. A move along the right wing saw the ball played into Daryl Kavanagh in the box but the Pat’s man slipped at the vital moment, allowing the Derry defence to clear the danger.
Derry began to come more and more into the game and deservedly drew level on 73 minutes in the most bizarre of circumstances as Bennion’s howler allowed McLaughlin in for a gift of a goal.
The Pat’s goalkeeper didn’t realise that McLaughlin was standing right behind him when he dropped the ball from his hands in preparation to kick the ball upfield.
McLaughlin saw the opportunity, ran around Bennion and took control of the ball before shooting into the unguarded net.
Bradley could have won the game for Pat’s at the death but his spot kick hit Doherty’s right hand upright.
ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC: Bennion; Carroll, Kenna, E McMillan, Pender; O’Connor (Doyle 69 mins), Bradley, Mulcahy, P Crowley, D McMillan (Murphy 81 mins); D Kavanagh (North 85 mins).
DERRY CITY: Doherty; Lafferty, McBride, Greacen (S McEleney 90 mins), Molloy; McLaughlin (Friars 90 mins), Deery, Harkin (McDaid 59 mins), Higgins, P McEleney; Zayed.
Referee: D Hancock (Dublin).
