A WELL-WORKED and well-taken goal by veteran striker Liam Boyce brought Derry City further capital gains with this smash-and-grab victory at Richmond Park.
Though they deserved their 1-0 win over Shelbourne at Tolka Park on Friday, Derry rode their luck in Inchicore as Saints could not find a way to goal despite a dominant display.
Following losses to Shels and Galway United, this marked a third defeat on the bounce for the first time in Stephen Kenny’s 13-month tenure.
It is also four games without a home win and just two victories from their last ten matches as Pat’s remain in the bottom half of the table. Needing a result and a performance after two defeats on the bounce, Saints made two changes from Friday’s 3-1 defeat in Galway.
Seán Hoare replaced Tom Grivosti in defence while attacking midfielder Brandon Kavanagh came in to play behind Mason Melia as Aidan Keena dropped to the bench.
And Kenny’s side showed their positive intent within two minutes when Jay McClelland got forward from left-back to bring a comfortable save from Brian Maher.
Hoare was then given a free header from Kavanagh’s first corner of the night on six minutes, but planted it straight at the Derry keeper.
With the energy of Barry Baggley, Simon Power and Zack Elbouzedi across midfield, Saints maintained their bright start.
Power worked a yard of space on the left to cross for Kavanagh whose acrobatic volley was over the top.
Not surprisingly, unchanged from their deserved big win at Shelbourne, Derry were labouring to get a foothold in the game as Saints continued to dominate the ball.
That changed midway through the half after St Pat’s were angered by a double booking for Jamie Lennon and Hoare following a foul on Michael Duffy.
It led to Derry finally enjoying some possession, forcing a couple of corners which came to nothing, before striking with a superbly constructed goal on 29 minutes.
Building from the back, skipper Mark Connolly found Carl Winchester in space in midfield.
He fed the run of Duffy who opened Saints up with the help of a decoy run from Gavin Whyte.
The ball was spread wide for overlapping right-back Ronan Boyce whose cross was turned home by namesake striker Boyce with a glancing header for the 34-year-old’s fifth goal of the season.
As in the first half, St Pat’s began the second on the front foot, almost levelling within a minute of the resumption.
Skipper Joe Redmond and McClelland worked the ball down the left for Baggley but Melia could not get enough on his cross as Maher made an easy save.
Maher had more to do on 57 minutes when a terrific break on the counter from Melia tore Derry open to set up Power, whose drive was saved.
Saints owned the ball from there but struggled to work Maher as Derry held on for another three points in Dublin.
SUN STAR MAN
Brandon Kavanagh (St Pat’s)
ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC: Anang 7; Sjoberg 7 (Keena 71, 6), Redmond 7, Hoare 7, McClelland 7; Lennon 7, Baggley 6 (Forrester 67, 6); Elbouzedi 7, Kavanagh 8 (Mulraney 77, 6), Power 6; Melia 6 (Leavy 77, 6).
DERRY CITY: Maher 7; Cann 7, Connolly 6 (Ferguson 61, 6), Holt 7; R Boyce 6 (O’Reilly h-t, 6), Diallo 7 (Benson 73, 6), Winchester 7, Todd 7; Whyte 6 (McMullan 61, 6), Duffy 7; L Boyce 7 (Mullen 61, 6).
REFEREE: M Houlihan (Dublin) 5.
