Match Preview

Derry City vs St Patrick's Athletic

Derry City dominated but left it late to seal victory over fellow title contenders St Patrick's Athletic.

Second-half goals from Ben Doherty and Colm Whelan secured the win, as Ruaidhri Higgins' side closed the gap on Bohemians to just three points after the leaders' draw at UCD.

The Brandywell fans also seem to have found a new favourite in Whelan, as the young striker netted his second goal in as many games.

Tim Clancy will be disappointed that his side never really got going, but will be annoyed by referee Paul McLaughlin's decision to award the penalty for City's crucial opening goal.

The woodwork denied the home side an 11th-minute lead, as Oliver O'Neill's close-range shot, which had goalkeeper Dean Lyness beaten, came back off the post.

Moments later a Doherty corner was knocked down by Cameron McJannet but Michael Duffy's close-range header was straight at Lyness. Derry continued to be the better side and they should have taken the lead on 30 minutes as O'Neill played a lovely pass to Doherty, but his side-footed strike was too close to Lyness.

The Saints keeper had to make another smart save moments later, diving full-stretch to his left to keep out Duffy's curling shot.

Soon after a super teasing right wing cross from Ryan Graydon found Duffy at the back post, but the winger's left footed strike from around the penalty spot, failed to trouble Lyness. Just before half-time more fantastic link-up play down the left by Doherty and Duffy, ended with the winger's teasing centre flashing across the Saints six yard box.

Early in the second half, a teasing Duffy free-kick found McJannet, but the centre-back's left-footed shot flew well over. Soon after, Graydon went close, but his 20-yard drive, which had Lyness worried, just cleared the crossbar.

The deadlock was finally broken on 72 minutes in somewhat controversial circumstances as referee McLaughlin felt that Lewis had upended Graydon.

After the visitor's protests were waved away, Doherty stepped up and fired home the resulting spot-kick, blasting the ball high into the left corner.

Derry added a second on 79 minutes as that man Whelan made it two in two, heading home from close range after Doherty's inswinging corner picked him out.

© rte.ie

Date	Competition	Home Team		Away Team
April, 28th 2023	League	Derry City	2	St Patrick's Athletic	0	REPORT
May, 9th 2022	League	Derry City	0	St Patrick's Athletic	0	REPORT
March, 18th 2022	League	Derry City	2	St Patrick's Athletic	1	REPORT
October, 15th 2021	League	Derry City	1	St Patrick's Athletic	0	REPORT
May, 24th 2021	League	Derry City	2	St Patrick's Athletic	2	REPORT
September, 18th 2020	League	Derry City	0	St Patrick's Athletic	0	REPORT
October, 22nd 2019	League	Derry City	1	St Patrick's Athletic	3	REPORT
May, 10th 2019	League	Derry City	1	St Patrick's Athletic	1	REPORT

Date	Competition	Home Team		Away Team
June, 2nd 2023	League	UCD	1	St Patrick's Athletic	3	REPORT
May, 20th 2023	Womens_under17	Dundalk	0	St Patrick's Athletic	0	REPORT
May, 19th 2023	League	Shelbourne	0	St Patrick's Athletic	1	REPORT
May, 15th 2023	League	Shamrock Rovers	3	St Patrick's Athletic	2	REPORT
May, 5th 2023	League	Cork City	2	St Patrick's Athletic	3	REPORT
April, 29th 2023	Womens_under17	Bohemians	0	St Patrick's Athletic	0	REPORT
April, 28th 2023	League	Derry City	2	St Patrick's Athletic	0	REPORT
April, 14th 2023	League	Bohemians	2	St Patrick's Athletic	3	REPORT
April, 10th 2023	League	Drogheda United	1	St Patrick's Athletic	3	REPORT
March, 18th 2023	Womens_under17	Bray Wanderers	3	St Patrick's Athletic	1	REPORT

Date	Competition	Home Team		Away Team
April, 28th 2023	League	Derry City	2	St Patrick's Athletic	0	REPORT
February, 17th 2023	League	St Patrick's Athletic	1	Derry City	1	REPORT
September, 30th 2022	League	St Patrick's Athletic	0	Derry City	1	REPORT
May, 9th 2022	League	Derry City	0	St Patrick's Athletic	0	REPORT
April, 29th 2022	League	St Patrick's Athletic	0	Derry City	4	REPORT
March, 18th 2022	League	Derry City	2	St Patrick's Athletic	1	REPORT
October, 15th 2021	League	Derry City	1	St Patrick's Athletic	0	REPORT
July, 9th 2021	League	St Patrick's Athletic	1	Derry City	0	REPORT
May, 24th 2021	League	Derry City	2	St Patrick's Athletic	2	REPORT
April, 9th 2021	League	St Patrick's Athletic	2	Derry City	0	REPORT

Date	Competition	Home Team		Away Team
June, 2nd 2023	League	UCD	1	St Patrick's Athletic	3	REPORT
May, 26th 2023	League	St Patrick's Athletic	2	Dundalk	1	REPORT
May, 19th 2023	League	Shelbourne	0	St Patrick's Athletic	1	REPORT
May, 15th 2023	League	Shamrock Rovers	3	St Patrick's Athletic	2	REPORT
May, 12th 2023	League	St Patrick's Athletic	3	Drogheda United	0	REPORT
May, 5th 2023	League	Cork City	2	St Patrick's Athletic	3	REPORT
May, 1st 2023	League	St Patrick's Athletic	0	Sligo Rovers	1	REPORT
April, 28th 2023	League	Derry City	2	St Patrick's Athletic	0	REPORT
April, 21st 2023	League	St Patrick's Athletic	0	Shamrock Rovers	2	REPORT
April, 14th 2023	League	Bohemians	2	St Patrick's Athletic	3	REPORT