Saints pay price as Candystripes pounce to make capital gains

ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC 0 DERRY CITY 2

A COUPLE of inventive St Patrick’s Athletic fans thought they had got around a ban on fans attending last night’s game at home to Derry City by nabbing a viewing point on a hill overlooking one of the goals at Richmond Park, only to be moved on by members of an Garda Síochána.

They were spared having to watch what was about to unfold as the Saints were outplayed and outfoxed by Derry City.

After a tepid first half Derry, paying tribute to their departed supporter John Hume, were a lot sharper in the second half, in front four minutes after the break with a goal from debutant James Akintunde and then a second on 71 minutes, a superb finish from ex-Saint Conor McCormack following a poor clearance from defender Luke McNally.

Derry quickly settled into their surroundings as Gerardo Bruna and Joe Thomson and Walter Figueira all had chances while Pat’s came up with their best passage of play on 33 minutes, a good ball out of defence from Lee Desmond which was latched onto by Robbie Benson and he whipped in a cross which just didn’t fall for Georgie Kelly.

Pat’s made a change at the break but it was Derry who started the second half with a fresher approach, going 1-0 up four minutes after the restart thanks to Akintunde, an assist from Jack Malone.

Their second goal was claimed by McCormack, but sloppy play in their own half by Pat’s gifted the ball, and the goal, to him.

ST PATS – Clarke; McNally, Desmond, Feely; Lennon (Burns 76), Ward (Forrester 50); Titov (McClelland, 46), Benson, Gibson (Markey 76), Griffin; Kelly (Rennie 63).

DERRY – Cherrie; Toal, Gilchrist, Coll; McCormack; Horgan, Malone (Clifford 88), Thomson, Bruna (Mallon 65), Figueira; Akintunde (Harkin 85).

REF – R Hennessy