St Patrick’s Athletic 1

Derry City 3

DERRY CITY BEAT St Pat’s 3-1 at Richmond Park tonight, going second in the table as a result.

Patrick McClean, Gerardo Bruna and Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe got the goals for the visitors, before Gary Shaw scored what proved to be a consolation for the Dublin side.

All four goals came in the first half, along with a red card. With just two minutes on the clock, McClean handed the Candystripes the dream start at Richmond Park but truth be told, Brendan Clarke should have done better between the posts.

A stunning Bruna free-kick doubled Derry’s lead, this time Clarke had no chance in goals.

Straight after, things went from bad to worse for Pat’s as Kevin Toner saw red for a reckless challenge, and Ogedi-Uzokwe soon took advantage of the numerical advantage to make it 3-0 just after the half-hour mark.

Shaw pulled one back for the hosts through a header from the restart, the game all but done and dusted with 32 minutes played. 

The second half wasn’t just as frenetic or dramatic, with Pat’s enjoying most of the possession but failing to capitalise as the chances at both ends were few and far between.

Next up for Derry are the league leaders Shamrock Rovers at home on Friday, where a win would put them five behind the Hoops with a game in hand.

For Pat’s meanwhile, tonight’s result comes as a big blow to their title hopes as a challenge looks less and less likely. They host Sligo Rovers on Friday night.

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