Sports Direct FAI Cup second round
Derry City 3 St Patrick’s Athletic 0
DERRY City produced a sensational second-half display to easily knock out Sports Direct FAI Cup holders St Patrick’s Athletic at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium last night.
Three goals in the space of a 14-minute spell secured the stunning victory and left former Republic of Ireland and Derry City boss Stephen Kenny’s side shell-shocked.
A Danny Mullen double gave City the perfect start after the break before Michael Duffy netted just after the hour mark and this all came after Will Patching had been denied from the penalty spot by Saints net-minder Joseph Anang.
The victory for Ruaidhri Higgins’ men was their fifth in a row over the Richmond Park side and the manner in which they secured the win could spark them into life for the remainder of the season.
City made two changes to the side which was knocked out of the Europa Conference League by FCB Magpies on Thursday night, with Sam Todd and Mullen coming in for Daniel Kelly and Pat Hoban, who both dropped to the bench.
The cup holders missed a glorious chance on seven minutes as Duffy’s miss-placed header fell to Jake Mulraney inside the box, but with only Brian Maher to beat he fired wide.
Maher was called into action on 21 minutes when Mulraney’s deep cross from the left found Chris Forrester at the back post, with his side foot volley parried away by the Derry net-minder.
Derry were inches away from breaking the deadlock on 37 minutes as Patching’s left wing corner picked out Connolly, but his powerful header was cleared off the line by Anto Breslin. The Brandywell men were awarded a penalty on 47 minutes as Carl Axel Sjoberg clashed with Paul McMullan inside the box and referee Robert Harvey pointed to the spot.
After the Saints’ protests were waved away, Patching saw his spot-kick saved as Anang dived to his left to parry it away.
Patching was inches away from making up for the penalty miss, but after twisting and turning on the edge of the box, his dipping shot fizzed just over.
Derry did break the deadlock on 53 minutes as Duffy burst down the left before seeing his cut-back turned home at the near post by Mullen.
Then from a Ben Doherty corner Mullen netted his second, rising high to powerfully head home.
Derry all but ended the contest on 67 minutes as O’Reilly picked up possession before playing a clever pass to Duffy, the ex-Dundalk man taking a touch before firing low into the bottom corner.
City substitute Hoban went close to adding a fourth on 83 minutes but his toe poke was kept out by Anang.
Derry City Maher, Coll (Whelan 84), Connolly, Todd, Doherty; Dummigan, O’Reilly, Patching (Diallo 84); McMullan (Kelly 84), Mullen (Hoban 73), Duffy.
St Patrick’s Athletic Anang, Sojiberg, Redmond, Grivosti (Turner 84, Breslin; Lennon (Palmer 63), Forrester, Leavy (Elbouzedi 63); B Kavanagh (C Kavanagh 71), Melia (McClelland 84), Mulraney.
Referee Mr Robert Harvey (Dublin)
Second round results
Derry City 3 St Patrick’s Athletic 0
Sligo Rovers 3 Cobh Wanderers 0
Bray Wanderers 0 Shelbourne 1
Gorey Rangers 0 UCD 4
Wayside Celtic 1 Wexford 3
Cork City 1 Finn Harps 0
Ballyfermot United 3 Leeds AFC 1
Pike Rovers 3 Midleton 1
Bohemians 1 Shamrock Rovers 0
Athlone Town 1 Ringmahon Rangers 0
Drogheda United 2 Dundalk 1
Galway United 6 Longford Town 0
Treaty United 0 Kilbarrack United 0 (AET, Treaty won 4-1 on pens)
Waterford 2 Cockhill Celtic 1
Wilton United 2 Carrigaline United 1
Cobh Ramblers 0 Kerry 2