Derry City defeat St Pats to secure second spot
SECOND PLACEl Jordan McEneff of Derry City celebrates after scoring his side's third goal. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
Derry City have finished in second spot in consecutive seasons following this victory over St. Pat's at the Ryan McBride Brandywell.
And while the 'Candystripes' thoroughly deserved to win this, it was also abundantly clear that the men from Inchicore had one eye on Sunday week's FAI Cup final against Dublin rivals Bohemians.
Indeed, St. Pats made seven changes from the team which lost out to Shamrock Rovers last weekend and their attempts to deploy containing tactics failed miserably.
Derry totally dominated the first half and really should have ended this game as a contest before the half-time whistle.
From the opening minutes Derry controlled the ball with centre-back Mark Connolly missing an early opening as his header following a Paul McMullan cross failed to find the net from close range.
Pats' midfielder Jason McClelland did well to head the ball off his goal-line in the 10th minute when McMullan delivered yet another teasing cross into the danger area.
And Derry's early pressure was finally rewarded in the 12th minute when Cameron McJannet appeared to get his head to the ball to hit the net although Brandon Kavanagh may also claim the strike as he appeared to get a feint touch to the ball.
The home side deservedly doubled their advantage in the 25th minute.
A flowing move involving Ben Doherty and Kavanagh saw the bed fed into the path of Will Matching and having taken control of the ball he found the top corner of the net.
Derry continued to press and Pat's keeper, Dean Lyness, did well to deny both Kavanagh and McMullan just before the half hour.
Just before half time St. Pat's defender Anto Breslin was fortunate not to net an own goal having attempted to clear a Doherty cross, the ball sailing over the St. Pat's crossbar.
And Michael Duffy squandered a glorious chance to kill the game off before the break when McMullin set him up following a one-two with Patching, the striker failing to hit the target when well placed.
St. Pat's attempted to raise their game following the change of ends with McClelland driving his side's first shot on target towards the Derry goal, the ball was punched clear by keeper Brian Maher.
Striker Michael Duffy sensationally missed a second sitter in the 55th minute when Patching played him in, but the Derry man amazingly ballooned the ball over the Pats' crossbar, it was an amazing miss.
Pat's keeper, Dean Lyness, did superbly well in the 69th minute when diving low to deny Patching who failed to get the necessary power into his shot.
Substitute Jordan McEneff, who netted Derry's first goal of the 2023 season, netted the final goal of the campaign during the dying minutes to end the campaign as top scorer for Derry with eight goals.
Maher, Boyce, Connolly, McJannet, Doherty; Dummigan, Patching; McMullan (McLaughlin, 89), P. McEleney (O'Donnell, 89), B. Kavanagh (McEneff, 79); Duffy (Mullen, 79).
Lyness; Curtis, Redmond, (Timmermans, h/t), McGrath, Breslin (Norman, h/t); Forrester (Dodd, 82), McCormack; Mulraney (Melia, 70), McClelland, Nolan; Carty (Lonergan, 65).
R. Harvey (Dublin).
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