Pat’s back on top thanks to Derry old boy Brennan

Derry City 0 St Pat’s Athletic 1

The former Derry player curled the ball off the upright and past Ger Doherty after just two minutes and the men from Inchicore will now believe this could well be their season.

In the 23rd minute a cross from Ger O’Brien found Christy Fagan bursting forward and but for a superb last-ditch tackle by Ryan McBride, Derry could have found themselves in even more difficulty.

The home side’s cause was not helped by the premature exit of Patrick McEleney after 42 minutes, the midfielder clearly in trouble following a tackle.

Derry could have equalised in the 58th minute when substitute Paddy Kavanagh burst clear on the right, but experienced Pat’s defender Kenny Browne made a timely tackle.

Kavanagh then had a shot from 16 yards well saved before Barry Molloy shot over, but the equaliser never came.

DERRY CITY: Doherty, Madden, McBride, McNamee, P McEleney (Kavanagh 42), Higgins, Molloy, Griffin (Curran 46), S McEleney, McDaid, Patterson.

ST PAT’S: Clarke; O’Brien, Kenna, Brown, Byrne, McFaul (Maher 76), Bolger, Brennan, Bermingham, Kavanagh, Fagan (Flood 68).

Referee: T. Connolly (Dublin).