Derry City missed out on securing a first win of the new season after a dogged St Patrick’s Athletic snatched an unlikely late point.
It left the Candy Stripes demoralised at a heaving Richmond Park (kick off 7.45 pm) who were looking to kick off their league campaign with a win.
This was a slow burner before 4,789 fans came to life in the second quarter, in which Jordan McEneff’s goal was enough to separate the sides – until the final minute, when Joe Redmond showed predatory instincts from a matter of yards.
Undoubtedly, home boss Tim Clancy will feel relieved, but Derry were the better team for most of the game, so both sides will have lots to think about after a gripping first night of the season.
They were queuing in large numbers well before an hour prior to kick-off, the bars in Inchicore heaving with both Saints and Derry fans.
There was a blow for City before a ball was kicked, Michael Duffy ruled out, with Ollie O’Neill – on loan from Fulham – making a hasty debut for the bookmakers’ second favourites in the title race. Eoin Doyle started on the bench for Saints, Tommy Lonergan up front with Mark Doyle.
The atmosphere was something else in the opening ten minutes, each set of supporters exorcising the frustration of months without football.
Estonian international Vladislav Kreida impressed almost immediately but faded thereafter in the Saints engine room, one of those he replaced, Adam O’Reilly, getting a predictable welcome back to Inchicore. O’Reilly had a really influential first half.
There were no chances in the first quarter. Saints produced a beautiful bit of football 25 minutes in, Chris Forrester heavily involved; Brian Maher was not extended by his strike. Maher barely made a meaningful save all evening.
Moments later, Derry should have gone in front. A lovely pass from O’Neill showcased his talents but Ryan Graydon was thwarted by a superb save from Saints debutant David Odumosu.
Odumosu then had a real let off, the game coming to life, a crazy clearance to O’Neill seeing the latter’s shot – the goal open – cleared away by the head of Joe Redmond.
The lead goal came 33 minutes in. Jordan McEneff, a brother of Aaron and so highly rated by City boss Ruaidhri Higgins, ran at the Saints defence and deceived Odomuso with a lovely strike.
Mark Connolly’s passing was a feature of the first half and his raking ball found O’Neill, who had Odumosu scrambling.
Odumosu left his line as half-time approached and Jamie McGonigle almost clipped it over him, the ball trailing wide.
Forrester was again heavily involved just before half-time and, after Jamie Lennon drove at goal, Connolly made an excellent diving block.
Jake Mulraney, about whom there was plenty of chat pre-season, came on for Mark Doyle eight minutes into the second half, with Derry making their own big-name substitution five minutes later, Patrick McEleney coming in for the impressive O’Neill. McEleney soon started to run the game but picked up a booking as the hosts’ pressure increased.
Mulraney raided down the right and found Curtis, who teed up Lennon, who wasn’t far away. McEneff showed he can do the dirty stuff with a crunching tackle on Kreida in front of the Derry dugout – welcome to the League of Ireland.
A teasing Mulraney free-kick had Maher alert as time ran out, as it looked likely to do on Saints, despite penning Derry in their box over the course of four successive corners – and the pressure paid off with a minute to go as Redmond got a vital touch in a crowded area.
It was breathless stuff and, somehow, in the end, it was Derry who were holding on for a point.
St Patrick’s Athletic: Odumosu; Lewis, Redmond, Grivosti (Atakayi 66); Curtis, Kreida, Lennon, Forrester (Carty 74), Breslin; M Doyle, Lonergan (E Doyle 74).
Derry City: Maher; Coll, S McEleney, Connolly, McJannet (Boyce 45); Graydon, O’Reilly, Patching, McEneff (C Kavanagh 71), O’Neill (P McEleney 59); McGonigle (B Kavanagh 70).
Referee: Rob Harvey.
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