SETANTA CUP GROUP THREE:Derry City 1 St Patrick's Ath 1

ST PATRICK’S Athletic new boss, Pete Mahon, will have been happy with this Setanta Cup share of the spoils at the Brandywell last night given the quality of the side on duty for the Dublin club.

Watching from the stands in the company of his assistant, John Gill, Mahon will have noted that St Pat’s made no fewer than five changes from the starting XI in Galway last weekend.

But during the first half, the visitors had their difficulties as Derry more or less dominated that period yet failed to make their superiority count in front of goal.

However, Derry’s dominance was eventually rewarded one minute before the break when Pat’s midfielder, John Lester, tripped Derry’s Liam Kearney just inside the area and referee, Richie Winter, pointed to the spot.

Tommy Stewart drove the ball home despite goalkeeper Brendan Clarke getting a touch to the ball.

Liam Kearney went close to doubling Derry’s lead in the 47th minute following an Eddie McCallion cross, but Clarke did well to palm the shot clear of his upright. But in the 56th minute Lester atoned for his first-half error when he netted a wonder strike.

Having received the ball 35 yards from goal, the midfielder let fly, the ball dipping over the head of Derry goalkeeper, Ger Doherty, who had strayed from his goal-line.

In the 73rd minute Doherty saved well from Mark Leech as St Patrick’s grew in confidence but two minutes later Tam McManus headed an effort off the crossbar with Clarke beaten. Derry’s David Scullion had a shot deflected in the 87th minute as the home side finished strongly, but they had to settle for a share of the spoils.

DERRY CITY:Doherty; McCallion, McEleney, Hutton (Gray, 90 mins), O'Brien; Stewart (Nash, 77 mins), Higgins, Molloy, Kearney; McManus, Farren (Scullion, 67 mins).

ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC:Clarke; Dowling, Gavin, Haverty, Ryan; Maher, Cawley, Dempsey, Lester (Ryan, 84 mins), Moran (O'Brien, 74 mins); Leech.

Referee:R Winter (Wicklow).