Derry City climbed to second in the table as they defeated ten-man St. Patrick's Athletic 3-1 at Richmond Park on Monday night. The Candystripes came flying out of the blocks and were 1-0 up within two minutes through Patrick McClean's 25-yard stri
Derry City climbed to second in the table as they defeated ten-man St. Patrick's Athletic 3-1 at Richmond Park on Monday night.
The Candystripes came flying out of the blocks and were 1-0 up within two minutes through Patrick McClean's 25-yard strike which slipped underneath Pat's keeper Brendan Clarke.
Darragh Markey went close for Pat's on 15 minutes after a neat one-two with Rhys McCabe but Derry's Peter Cherrie was able to smother the resulting shot. Three minutes later, Gerardo Bruna curled home a stunning free kick to double the Candystripes' lead.
If McClean's strike set the tone, the Argentine went one better and there was nothing Brendan Clarke could do in the Saints goal. Things went from bad to worse for the home side a minute later when Kevin Toner was sent off for a two-footed lunge on Derry captain Ciaron Harkin.
The mountain Saints needed to climb got even higher when Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe made it 3-0 with a header on the half hour. There was some relief for Pat's two minutes later when Gary Shaw pulled one back, making the half time score 3-1 to Derry.
Pat's manager Harry Kenny took off McCabe for Cian Coleman at the break as the players came out again in the driving rain. Coleman brought some added energy to the home side's play and on 55 minutes he drifted a low cross into the box but there was no one there to meet it.
Overall, Pat's started the second half much the brighter side despite having the disadvantage of being a man down. Gary Shaw could have doubled his tally just after the hour but his header from Simon Madden's cross went just wide.
On 73 minutes, Derry substitute Barry McNamee set up Harkin for a shot after some good work down the left but Harkin's shot was saved by Clarke. Overall, the second half didn't live up to the frenetic first and Derry held on for a 3-1 win, their fourth league victory in a row.
