Derry City (1) - St Patrick's Athletic (1)

Match Report

Derry City 1 - St Patrick's Athletic 1

Les Desmond's stunning long-range strike meant St Patrick's Athletic ended their recent slump in form and secured a deserved point at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium.

Barry McNamee's first goal of the season for the Candy Stripes gave the home side an early lead, but Desmond's wonder strike on the half-hour mark sealed a point for the visitors.

Derry broke the lead deadlock on nine minutes after an impressive passing move cut through the Pat's defence.

Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe and Ciaran Coll linked up well down the left, before the defender's cut-back found Barry McNamee and the skipper's sweet left-footed strike from just inside the box found the bottom right-hand corner.

St Pat's had a half chance on 16 minutes but Conor Clifford blazed over after he won possession inside the box from Ciaron Harkin.

Harry Kenny's side levelled things in stunning style as Desmond's 30-yard piledriver clipped the underside of the bar before flying into the top right corner, giving City keeper Peter Cherrie no chance.

St Pat's went close to taking the lead four minutes later but Gary Shaw's close-range header was kept out by Cherrie, after the unmarked striker latched onto Rhys McCabe's free-kick.

With their tails up the visitors drew another save out of Cherrie minutes later, but Chris Forrester's 20-yard strike was straight at the City keeper.

Just before the break a clever pass by Darren Cole found David Parkhouse, but the big striker's shot from the right hand edge of the box whistled over Clarke's bar.

Shaw went close again on 50 minutes. This time, from Mikey Drennan's left wing cross, he headed wide from 10 yards.

Soon after a super left-wing centre by Sloggett found Ogedi-Uzokwe, but the winger's powerful header from close range fizzed over the bar.

© rte.ie

Match Info

Date: 10/05/2019
Competition: League
Venue: Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium

Home Team

Peter Cherrie, Darren Cole, Eoin Toal, Ally Gilchrist (Gerardo Bruna 77), Ciaran Coll; Barry McNamee, Greg Sloggett, Ciaron Harkin; Jamie McDonagh (Eoghan Stokes HT), David Parkhouse (Aidy Delap 74), Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe.

Away Team

Brendan Clarke, Simon Madden, David Webster, Lee Desmond, Ian Bermingham; Conor Clifford, Ciaran Kelly, Rhys McCabe (Jamie Lennon 80), Chris Forrester (Darragh Markey 83); Mikey Drennan, Gary Shaw (Jake Walker 91).