Derry City failed to go to the top of the Premier Division
table after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Saint Patricks Athletic at
Inchicore on Friday night. Michael Rafter cancelled out Conan Byrne's earlier
goal to insure a share of the points in a game which Pats should have won.
The home team started the better of the two and they had the
majority of the early possession. In the 4th minute they had the
game's first chance. Killian Brennan swung in a corner from the left. Chris
Forrester met it but diverted his effort wide.
Pats went close again in the 11th minute. Ger
O'Brien cut in from the right hand side and took a shot with his left foot
which went just over the bar. Just moments later Greg Bolger hit a fine shot
from outside the area which Gerard Doherty did well to push around the post.
Liam Buckley's side deservedly took the lead in the 21st
minute. Derry City full back Simon Madden missed the ball and Chris Forrester
gained possession. Forrester hit a scuffed shot and the ball reached John
Russell. Russell failed to control it properly but the ball broke to Conan
Byrne who placed it into the corner of the net for his third goal in three
successive league games.
Derry slightly improved as the half went on but their best
moments came from a couple of crosses into the box which Saint Patricks
Athletic goalkeeper Dave Ryan struggled to deal with. That was until the 37th
minute when the visitors got a rather fortunate equalizer.
Conor Kenna only half cleared the ball and it eventually
reached Barry McNamee. McNamee played
the ball into the Pats area. Michael Rafter took a shot which was blocked by
Kenna but the ball rebounded to Rafter who turned sharply and beat Ryan to
level the scores.
The opening 20 minutes of the second half were fairly even.
Derry threatened with a couple of dangerous balls into the Pats area while John
Russell had a shot from 20 yards out for the home team which didn't threaten.
Chris Forrester nearly scored a stunning goal for the Saints
in the 72nd minute. Ian Bermingham played it to him from the left. Forrester
turned and shot from about 30 yards out but the ball just shaved the post.
Forrester's influence grew as the game went on and he was
involved again in the 80th minute. He linked up with Killian Brennan
before Brennan found Ian Bermingham. Bermingham tried his luck from a narrow
angle but Gerard Doherty got down quickly to make the save.
Soon after Derry came close. Madden put in a fine cross from
the right. Ruaidhri Higgins who had a quiet game met it with his head but the
ball went across the goal and wide. Just a minute later the Saints had another
opportunity. Ryan McBride misjudged the ball and substitute Christy Fagan was
in on goal but Doherty was out like lightning to block Fagan's shot.
Pats should have won it injury time. John Russell crossed
from the left. Christy Fagan headed goalwards from two yards out but somehow
Doherty was there again to save from point blank range. The rebound broke to Jordan
Keegan who fired wide.
The game finished in a 1-1 draw. It was Saint Patricks
Athletic's first draw of the season but they will feel disappointed not to have
gained their seventh league victory.
Saint Patricks Athletic; Dave Ryan; Ger O'Brien, Connor
Kenna (c), Kenny Browne, Ian Bermingham; Conan Byrne (Jordan Keegan 83),
Killian Brennan, Greg Bolger, Christopher Forrester; John Russell; Anthony
Flood (Christy Fagan 61).
Subs not used: Brendan Clarke, Aidan Price, Conor
Murphy, Sean Gannon, Shane McFaul.
Booked: Greg Bolger (80)
Derry City: Gerard Doherty; Simon Madden, Ryan
McBride, Shane Mc Eleney, Thomas Crawley (Dermot Caffrey 54); Ruaidhri
Higgins, Barry Molloy (c), Barry
McNamee; Patrick McEleney; Rory Patterson, Michael Rafter (Sean Houston 74).
Subs not used: James Gallagher, Mark Griffin, Michael
Duffy, Ryan Curran, Tony McNamee.
Booked: Barry Molloy (30), Rory Patterson (45), Barry
McNamee (67), Gerard Doherty (90)
Referee: Pauric Sutton
Attendance: 1,404
© Seamus Egan 2013
