100 GAMES! Will Patching's top 10 moments in a Derry City shirt

Will Patching celebrates his 100th Derry City appearance tonight as the most talismanic midfielder the club has seen in almost a decade.

Last week’s spectacular goal against Drogheda United was just the latest in a long list of incredible goals scored by the 25-year-old, who has wowed Derry City fans since he first wore the famous red and white shirt back in early 2021.

Patching’s goal at Weavers Park was his 30th in all competitions for the club, the first player to reach that total from midfield since Aaron McEneff in 2018. In 99 appearances, Patching has also provided 24 assists, making a total of 54 goal contributions in his time at the Brandywell.

Signed on loan from Dundalk by Declan Devine in early 2021, Patching made 16 appearances for Derry before returning to Oriel Park, before he made a permanent move to the Brandywell in 2022.

With 7 free kicks, 11 penalties and six spectacular efforts from outside the penalty area, Patching has become one of the most dangerous players in the League of Ireland.

Here we look at his 10 finest moments for Derry City:

1 – June 18, 2021 vs. Finn Harps

Patching scored a double to earn Derry City a 2-1 win at Finn Park. After scoring an early penalty, the midfielder put his team ack into the lead with a spectacular free kick from 25 yards which gained revenge for Harps’ late win at the Brandywell in Ruaidhri Higgins’ first home game.

2- March 18, 2022 vs. St. Patrick’s Athletic

Patching showed his quality did not just come from set-plays as he scored two brilliant goals from distance to sink St. Patrick’s Athletic at the Brandywell. His first was a superb effort which he curled almost nonchalantly into the corner of the net, but the second was a last-minute winner as he drilled the ball through bodies into the net to send the Derry City supporters home happy.

3 – April 9, 2022 vs. Finn Harps

Patching was again the scourge of Finn Harps in Ballybofey as his spectacular free kick won the game for Derry City. Harps knew what was coming but not even the presence of Barry McNamee on the line could stop him, with Patching’s effort was ‘postage stamp’, right into the top corner.

4 – May 27, 2022 vs. Finn Harps

This was arguably Patching’s best free kick for Derry City and again it came against Finn Harps. Harps were 1-0 up at the Brandywell, and City packed the penalty area expecting Patching to deliver from 35 yards. Instead, Patching went directly from goal, completely catching out Marc Anthony McGinley, who was off his line, to bring Derry level in the most remarkable fashion.

5 – July 7, 2023 vs. Sligo Rovers

This was a case of Patching showing ice-cold nerve as he scored a 95th minute penalty at the Brandywell to devastate Sligo Rovers. This was also Patching’s only Derry City goal as a substitute. Patching was not on the pitch when Derry won an 82nd minute penalty, but Luke McNicholas saved Ben Doherty’s effort. Cian Kavanagh then won a second penalty and Patching took responsibility to win the game for Derry City.

6, July 27, 2023 vs. KuPS

This was undoubtedly Patching’s biggest moment in a Derry City shirt as he sparked a memorable European comeback that had the Brandywell bouncing. Trailing 1-0 at home in the first leg of the Europa Conference League tie against KuPS from Finland, Derry needed something and it came with a brilliant bullet header. Paul McMullan raced down the right and delivered a great cross right onto Patching’s head and he buried it to make it 1-1. Derry went on to win 2-1, as fans enjoyed another historic European night.

7 – September 6, 2023 vs. UCD

While Derry City were expected to beat UCD comfortably, there was still no denying the quality of Patching’s two goals, especially the first. Again, Paul McMullan was the provider from the right, as his bouncing cross sat up for Patching, who casually lifted the ball over the goalkeeper and into the net as if he was just messing around on the training pitch. Few players have the audacity or the skill to score that type of goal, but Patching is one of them.

8 – September 29 vs. UCD

Once again, UCD suffered to the ridiculous quality of Will Patching, who scored another remarkable goal. Paul McMullan was again the provider, working hard to win the ball just inside the penalty area before finding Patching, who found the net in the most bizarre fashion, lofting the ball high in the air, curling away from the goalkeeper, who must have been absolutely sick of the Derry City midfielder at this stage.  

9 – April 5, 2024

A struggling Dundalk came to the Brandywell against a Derry City team who had lost two on the bounce but it was Patching who calmed the nerves of the crowd with an absolute rocket just seconds into the second half. Paul McMullan yet again was the provider as he found Patching just outside the area, and with three Dundalk platers closing in, Patching dug the ball out from under his feet and arrowed the ball straight and spectacularly into the top corner.

10- April 12, 2024, vs. Drogheda United

Will Patching had Derry City fans shaking their heads in disbelief yet again as he produced another world class effort at Weavers Park. A goal down very early on, Michael Duffy equalised and Derry City then went ahead just before half time through Patching. Bizarrely no one opted to close the midfielder down 30 yards from goal, so he went for goal unchallenged, and curled an incredible effort beyond the goalkeeper and right into the top corner. Wow!