Richmond Park roared as a five-star St. Patrick’s Athletic raced from behind twice and scored four without response to beat Derry City 5-2 to go fourth in the Premier Division table. A frantic first half showed signs of what was to come from the ve
Richmond Park roared as a five-star St. Patrick’s Athletic raced from behind twice and scored four without response to beat Derry City 5-2 to go fourth in the Premier Division table. A frantic first half showed signs of what was to come from the very first exchanges. Barry Murphy gifted Derry an early lead with barely five minutes played as he teed up Aaron McEneff from a goal kick, allowing him to roll across for Rory Patterson to tap into an open goal. Before anyone had a chance to catch their breath, though, Saints were back on terms. Conan Byrne charged down the right and whipped a ball into the centre that found Jake Keegan who, moving away from goal, calmly converted across the face with his instep. Derry retook the lead on 20 minutes with more than a slice of good fortune. Patient play around the box eventually found Darren Cole in all the space he could ask for before he fired at goal from 20-ish yards, only for his shot to deflect and wrong-foot Murphy as it flew into the net. The half ended as it started and there were two goals in as many minutes as the hosts went ahead. Conan Byrne first converted from the penalty spot, before Kevin Toner powered in a header to send Liam Buckley’s side in at the break with an advantage. Thomas Byrne had been lively and he got the goal he deserved before the hour mark. Set through on goal under pressure, a delightful Cruyff-style turn bought him the extra yard he needed to lift the ball above Doherty and into the net. A similar turn on the other side moments later allowed him to shoot again, though this time he missed the target. Darragh Markey then added the game's seventh goal and became the seventh scorer of the night right at the death. A loose ball fell on the edge and he raced onto it, finding space in the box with a superb bit of skill before firing beyond Doherty.
