BOTH St Patrick’s Athletic and Derry City lost ground on Shamrock Rovers at the top of the table in an entertaining draw that will suit neither side.

 

In a game that started in terrible conditions, both sides created plenty of chances but Eamon Zayed had a rare off-night in front of goal for the Candystripes, while goalkeeper Ger Doherty had the opposite.

The hosts started brilliantly, but Daryl Kavanagh fired over and Gareth McGlynn had to head a Stephen Bradley cross over the bar in the opening three minutes.

Derry got to grips with their hosts’ pace and teenager Stephen McLaughlin had a low shot saved by Gary Rogers.

Zayed could have opened the scoring when picked out by Ruaidhri Higgins at the back post and he repeated the trick minutes later with a similar chance.

Dave Mulcahy went close when he slid in to meet Kavanagh’s low ball, before Danny North forced a fine save out of Doherty at the other end.

McLaughlin, making a rare start in the absence of the suspended James McClean, opened the scoring just after the half hour mark. The left winger received Higgins’ pass, turned Evan McMillan and beat Rogers with a low shot that went in off the post.

Kavanagh had a weak effort saved as the Saints tried to get back on par, but Zayed had a glorious opportunity to double his side’s lead at the other end. Again Higgins was the architect, but the striker missed the target from inside the box.

He was to regret that miss when Neil Harney’s long ball caught Derry flatfooted and Danny North took full advantage with the equaliser.

They almost repeated the trick but for Shane McEleney to make a brilliant saving tackle, before Doherty bravely beat North to another ball over the top.

Derek Doyle had an excellent volley denied by the inspired stopper, while North pulled an effort just wide from the edge of the box. Doherty made another reaction stop to deny Anto Murphy as the Saints piled on the pressure.

Derry escaped forward and Zayed was given another chance to put his side in front, this time heading a Gareth McGlynn cross wide.

Doherty denied Mulcahy with another brave intervention, while Daniel Lafferty went heartbreakingly close with a curling left footed free that came back off the upright.

Zayed had one more chance to head a McLaughlin ball home, but Rogers denied him and the sides had to settle for the draw.

ST PATRICK’S ATH: Rogers; Harney (Keegan 89), E McMillan, Shortall, Bermingham; Murphy, Bradley, Mulcahy, Doyle; Kavanagh, North.

DERRY CITY: Doherty, Molloy, Greacen, S McEleney, Lafferty; McGlynn, Higgins, Deery, McLaughlin; P McEleney (Harkin 62), Zayed.

REFEREE: A Kelly (Cork).