Derry City dominate St. Patrick's Athletic to secure second place

Derry City 3

St. Patrick’s Athletic 0

Derry City ended the season with an emphatic win over St. Patrick’s Athletic to secure second place in the Premier Division.

Goals from Brandon Kavanagh, Will Patching and Jordan McEneff secured Ruaidhri Higgins 50th league win as Derry City manager and also earned Brian Maher the Golden Glove for the most clean sheets this season.

The home fans were almost celebrating a goal 81 seconds into Friday night’s game when, from Derry’s first corner, Ben Doherty fed Paul McMullan, who whipped a cross to the back post where Mark Connolly arrived, but powered a header just wide. Some fans were even celebrating a goal before they realised the ball had hit the hoardings behind the goal and not the net.

But they didn’t have to wait much longer as the Candystripes took the lead on 11 minutes. Again, the threat came from a corner with Patching this time crossing towards the near post where Cameron McJannet flicked the ball on and Brandon Kavanagh was there to turn it in on the line.

It was 2-0 on 26 minutes thanks to another beauty from Will Patching. Ben Doherty picked the City talisman out 20 yards out and Patching shifted the ball onto his left foot before burling the ball high past Dean Lyness for his 11th goal of the season in all competitions.

St. Pat’s were second best all over the pitch and they were lucky not to go into the half time break three goals down. Patching was at his brilliant best and he picked out the run of McMullan in behind the Pat’s defence but the winger’s ball across goal was blazed over from close range by Duffy.

It should have been 3-0 on 56 minutes when Patching raced in from the right and put the ball in front of Duffy just two yards out, but the winger somehow hooked the ball over the bar, much to the disbelief of everyone in the Brandywell.

Substitute Jordan McEneff completed the scoring late on, driving the ball low past Lyness from 20 yards to end the game and the season on a high for the home supporters.

Teams

DERRY CITY: Maher, Boyce, Connolly, McJannet (Todd 88’), Doherty, Patching, P McEleney (McLaughlin 88’), B Kavanagh (McEneff 79’), Dummigan, McMullan (O’Donnell 88’), Duffy (Mullen 79’).

ST. PATRICK’S ATHLETIC: Lyness, Breslin (Norman 45’), McGrath, Redmond (Timmermans 45’), Curtis, McClelland, McCormack, Forrester (Dodd 82’), Nolan, Mulraney (Melia 71’), Carty (Lonergan 67’).

REFEREE: Rob Harvey