St Patrick's Athletic ... 1 Derry City ... 0Two records went at Richmond Park last night as St Patrick's Athletic ended a winless run dating back to September 16th when they beat Cork, while FAI cup winners Derry City suffered their first defeat in 12 games.
Having drawn their last three games, St Pat's badly needed a win and they got it with a hard fought success. They took a deserved lead six minutes into the second half when Martin Russell powerfully headed home a Ger McCarthy cross.
St Pat's were unlucky not to have gone ahead three minutes before that strike when Colm Foley and Jamie Harris had efforts cleared off the line.
Yet it was Derry's turn to feel aggrieved in the 53rd minute as both Ciaran Martyn and Peter Hutton thought they were about to level matters only to be denied by a determined rearguard.
The opening 45 minutes failed to ignite, although both sides did have their opportunities to break the deadlock.
St Pat's enjoyed the greater amount of possession in this period, but it was the visitors who came within inches of taking the lead prior to the break. Some slick passing saw Tommy McCallion split the home defence, but Jamie Hughes' side-footed effort spun wide of the post.
ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC: S Kelly, Croly, Burke, Donnelly, Harris, Foley, Osam, Russell, McCarthy, L Kelly, Bird. Sub: Holt for Russell (78)
DERRY CITY: Gough, E McCallion, Hargan, Hutton, McLaughlin, Doherty, Harkin, Martyn, Hughes, T McCallion, McCready. Subs: Deery for Hughes (60); Coyle for T McCallion (75): Mullan for McCready (84);
Referee: A Kelly (Cork)
