SETANTA CUP GROUP TWO - Derry City 2 St Patrick's Athletic 0:DERRY CITY claimed their first points in the Setanta Cup having completed the 'double' over St Patrick's Athletic at the Brandywell last night.
Indeed, with Derry making no fewer than five changes from the 1-0 victory at Richmond Park the previous Friday night - St Patrick's made two - the home side dominated the scoring chances.
And Paddy McCourt, who was introduced following an eighth-minute injury to Owen Morrison, made a significant impact on the proceedings.
The left winger sent Ciarán Martyn scampering clear in the 15th minute and while the midfielder side-stepped St Patrick's goalkeeper Brendan Clarke, he smashed his shot against the bar when opting for power.
But Martin made no mistake when breaking the deadlock in the 37th minute following a superb Derry move.
Aaron Callaghan's crossfield ball was poked forward by Niall McGinn and Gareth McGlynn's cross was headed firmly home by Martyn from 10 yards.
The home side doubled their lead two minutes into the second period. McGinn broke on the right and when he played the ball into the advancing McCourt, his effort seemed to be parried by Clarke before rebounding to the net off the body of St Patrick's defender, Stephen Brennan.
St Patrick's went close in the 66th minute when Mark Quigley's effort was parried wide of his post by the alert Gerard Doherty before the visitors ran out of ideas.
Derry should have made it three in the last minute but Conor Sammon's effort was palmed over the crossbar by Clarke.
Man-of-the-Match Martyn was full of praise for his team-mates and is looking forward to his trip to The Oval for next week's game against Glentoran.
"We're delighted with the win and we are now looking forward to our trip to The Oval. The way we're playing at the moment we fear no one," he said.
DERRY CITY:Doherty; McCallion, Hutton, Delaney (Higgins, 55 mins), Callaghan; McGinn (Farren, 82mins), Molloy, Martyn, Morrison (McCourt, 8 mins); McGlynn, Sammon.
ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC: Clarke; Brennan, Partridge, Harris (Frost, 7 mins), Paisley; Fahey, Dempsey, Lynch, Kirby; O'Neill (Guy, 46mins), Quigley (Ftizpatrick, 71mins).
Referee: A. McCourt (Bangor).