St Patrick's Ath 0 Derry City 2:GOALS EARLY in each half from Gareth McGlynn and David McDaid saw Derry put their off-field problems to one side for 90 minutes in Inchicore last night.
This well-deserved win – their fourth of the season over St Patrick’s Athletic – ended their five-match losing run to reignite their Europa League qualification hopes. But defeat left St Patrick’s rooted in the relegation play-off zone with two games to play.
Derry clinically punished a mistake to take the lead after nine minutes. St Patrick’s left-back Darragh Ryan’s miscontrolled to gift possession to McGlynn and the Derry winger pounced to unleash a right-footed shot that deflected off Ryan to wrong-foot goalkeeper Brendan Clarke and find the net.
Clarke saved with his feet to deny Barry Molloy a second goal after 47 minutes. But Derry doubled their lead on 56 minutes. Incisive work down the left by Molloy and James McLean saw the latter’s low cross being bundled to the net by McDaid.
In a show of solidarity on the final whistle, Derry’s whole squad and backroom team huddled on the pitch before applauding their small loyal band of travelling fans.
ST PATRICK'S ATH: Clarke; Maher, Gavin, Partridge, D. Ryan; Guy, O'Connor (Harris, 60 mins.), Dempsey, Byrne, B. Ryan; Quigley (Fitzpatrick, 85 mins).
DERRY CITY: Doherty; O'Brien, Delaney, Hutton, McCallion; McGlynn, Molloy, Higgins, McLean; Harkin (Martyn , 80 mins.); McDaid (Nash, 90 mins).
Referee: Dave McKeon (Dublin).
