McEleney the Derry hero

Athlone Town 0 Derry City 1

SE Airtricity League Premier Division: A stunning 30-yard free kick by Patrick McEleney was enough to give Derry City three points at Athlone Town’s expense yesterday.

It rounded off a great week for the Candystripes, who have now returned to the top half of the Airtricity League for the first time in 2014.

Peter Hutton’s charges visibly tired in the second half, perhaps as a result of their long journey to the midlands just three days after their successful outing against Aberystwyth Town in the Europa League. However despite plenty of possession and territory, Athlone failed to find a way past Ger Doherty in the Derry goal.

Philip Gorman twice came close in the first half, most notably when he directed a header onto the post, while Seán Brennan drew a fantastic save out of the Derry custodian soon after the restart, but it was all to no avail for the home side, who remain six points adrift at the foot of the league.

ATHLONE TOWN: P Skinner; S Quigley, D Prendergast, A Byrne, S Byrne; M Hughes; S Brennan, J O’Brien, K Dillon, G Rusk; P Gorman.

Subs: I Sweeney for Brennan (81), J Mulroy for Rusk (81).

DERRY CITY: G Doherty; D Ventre, R McBride, S McEleney, A Barry; B Molloy, B McNamee; P Lowry, P McEleney, M Duffy; R Patterson.

Subs: D Jarvis for McBride (ht), N Boyle for P McEleney (75), R Curran for Lowry (86).

Referee: Graham Kelly