Soccer

Derry City hold on against St Pat’s despite defensive injury woes

Pat’s held to a draw at the Brandywell despite home side missing first choice centre-halves

St. Pat’s Christy Fagan and Derry’s Harry Monaghan during their side’s 1-1 draw at the Brandywell. Photograph: Inpho
St. Pat’s Christy Fagan and Derry’s Harry Monaghan during their side’s 1-1 draw at the Brandywell. Photograph: Inpho
Fri Aug 05 2016 - 22:07

Derry City 1 St. Patrick’s Athletic 1

Fielding a side without their first choice centre-backs, Derry City managed to hold St. Pat’s at the Brandywell with an injury crisis looming.

Derry captain Ryan McBride and fellow central defender Aaron Barry both failed to take the field due to injuries.

However following a slick team move, it was Derry who broke the deadlock. Barry McNamee fed the ball into the path of loan striker, Rory Patterson who drilled low into the bottom corner.

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And while St. Pat's Billy Dennehy curled a shot wide of the upright within 60 seconds, Derry actually went so close to doubling their lead in the 12th minute.

Teenager, Josh Daniels, won an aerial challenge before McNamee fed Lukas Schubert but the Austrian's shot crashed off the upright.

However, Derry's defensive worries came back to bite them in the 23rd minute when St. Pat's were gifted an equaliser. Aaron McEneff lost possession of the ball in the centre of the park. Substitute Graham Kelly found Christy Fagan in space and when he sent Keith Tracey in, the midfielder drilled the ball through the legs of Ger Doherty to restore equality.

That goal gave the Dubliners confidence and within minutes, Billy Dennehy's cross was met by Sean Hoare but from just six yards the defender's effort was blocked by the legs of Doherty much to the relief of the home support.

Doherty burst to the fore yet again when pulling off yet another sensational save in the 72nd minute.

Derry City: Doherty; McDermott, Vemmelund, Monaghan, Jarvis; Schubert (Boyle, 65), McCormack, McEneff, Daniels (Curtis, 70); McNamee (B. Doherty, 85); Patterson.

St Pat's Athletic: Clarke; O'Brien, D. Dennehy, Hoare, Bermingham; Byrne (Kinsella, 70), Cawley (Kelly 18), Tracey (Verdon, 80), Timlin; B. Dennehy; Fagan.

Referee: Paul Tuite (Dublin).