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Brandywell win sends Saints clear at the top

Friday 23rd March 2007, 10:05 pm

Anthony Murphy, St. Patrick's Athletic.

Photo by Tom Carey.

Saint Patrick's Athletic are two points clear at the top of the eircom League after extending their perfect league start. The Saints went to Derry tonight and won 1-0 thanks to a headed goal from Anthony Murphy shortly before half-time.

A disorganised looking Derry failed to get back in the game and rarely threatened Barry Ryan's goal.

The Pats goal arrived in the 41st minute as Murphy got to the near post. Climbing highest he flicked home a header from John Frost's corner kick.

Save for a late low cross from Pat McCourt, Derry chances were thin on the ground.

The Saints reverted to their three man central defence with Stephen Paisley making his Saints debut in place of Darragh Maguire. Dave Mulcahy would later make his return to the side after knee surgery delayed his start to the season. Peter Hutton returned for Derry after an injury ruled Ken Oman out.

Mark Quigley almost put the Dublin side ahead after only four minutes after Joseph Ndo slotted him in after a powerful run. Goalkeeper Pat Jennings did well to push away Quigley's bobbling shot and Darren Kelly got back to prevent a corner.

At the other end a well organised Saints defence limited the home side's chances and Colm Foley made a crucial block to divert away Kelly's header from a Kevin Deery corner kick.

Derry went closest before the half hour when Gareth McGlynn's low shot was parried by Ryan. Murphy got back and bravely blocked from Ciaran Martyn.

Quigley again brought the best from Jennings with a volley from the edge of the box after Gary O'Neill flicked on Ryan's long kick forward.

The only goal of the game arrived on 41 minutes and Derry's problems increased when Sean Hargan was forced off injured before the break. Derry boss Pat Fenlon would go on to use up his other two changes before the 64th minute.

After the break Deery hit one of a number of wayward shots off target and it summed up an off colour night for the Candystripes. As a battling and pulsating clash continued, neither keeper was overly busy.

Quigley hit a shot straight at Jennings although his powerful run from defence deserved better.

McCourt played in a tantalizing low cross in the 80th minute but with the Saints defence looking on, Mark Farren couldn't turn home or even make a decent connection.

Sean O'Connor might have wrapped things up for the visitors at the end but Murphy's goal proved decisive as the Saints also extended their unbeaten start to the season to six games.

Derry City : Jennings, McCallion, Hargan (O'Halloran 45 +1), Kelly, Hutton, Deery, McGlynn, Martyn (Farren 58), McCourt, Molloy (Higgins 63), McHugh.
St. Patrick's Athletic : Ryan, Brennan, C Foley, Paisley, Frost, Murphy, Fahey (O'Connor 72), Ndo, Kirby (Mulcahy 63), M Quigley, O'Neill (Maguire 86).