Will Patching and Brandon Kavanagh score two apiece as Derry City dominate UCD

UCD 0

Derry City 5

Derry City chalked up their biggest win of the season to move within four points of Shamrock Rovers at the top of the Premier Division.

Will Patching and Brandon Kavanagh scored two goals apiece against the struggling Students, while winger Pual McMullan provided three assists as Ruaidhri Higgins’ team ran riot.

The visitors got off to an absolutely perfect start by opening the scoring after just two minutes. McMullan received he ball on the right and drove into the UCD area before crossing for Danny Mullen who couldn’t miss with a close-range header to make it 1-0.

Derry City had to be patient, but they finally got their second five minutes before half time when Will Patching met McMullan’s cross with a brilliant chipped finish over Lorcan for his eighth goal of the season.

The game was over as a contest by half time as City added another two minutes before the break, this time Ben Doherty whipping the ball in for Kavanagh to sweep him to seal the win very early on for Ruaidhri Higgins’ team.

Derry wasted little time in adding to their lead in the second half, and it was a beauty from Patching. McMullan chipped in with his third assist of the night as he found his team mate on the edge of the area, and Patching curled the ball past Healy with his left foot into the top corner to make it 4-0.

The fifth quickly followed and UCD lost possession just outside their own goal and Patching set up Brandon Kavanagh who whipped the ball spectacularly into the net from the left side of the area for his second of the game.

Ruaidhri Higgins was able to give a senior debut to 17-year-old Callum McCay, who replaced Sadou Diallo on 70 minutes.

Derry City host Shamrock Rovers at the Brandywell next Friday (September 15) in what promises to be a huge game in the title race. 

Teams

UCD: Healy, Osam, Wells, Keaney, Barr (O’Brien 76’), Behan (Doyle 54’), Keane, Kinsella Bishop (Raggett 54’), Norris, Brennan, Verdon (Curtis 76’).

Derry City: Maher, Coll, McJannet (Todd 60’), S McEleney, Doherty, Diallo (McKay 71’), Patching (P McEleney 60’), O’Reilly (McEneff 60’), B Kavanagh, P McMullan, Mullen (C Kavanagh 60’).

Referee: David Dunne.