DERRY CITY claimed a point that their performance scarcely merited in an entertaining 1-1 draw against St Patrick’s Athletic at Richmond Park.

St Pat’s, who suffered the heartache of a Ford FAI Cup semi-final replay defeat at the hands of Shelbourne on Monday night, were indebted to reserve goalkeeper Chris Bennion who produced a superb double save in the 6th minute.

The initial chance fell to Stephen McLaughlin who was given the freedom of Inchicore on the left hand side of the Pat’s penalty area and although Bannion thwarted his first-time attempt, he excelled himself in parrying Kevin Deery’s volleyed attempt to safety at the expense of a fruitless corner.  

The action switched to the opposite end of the ground within three minutes as Daryl Kavanagh turned niftily to work a shooting chance, but his curling attempt from 25 yards sufficient power to unduly trouble Gerard Doherty in the Derry goal.

On 11 minutes, the Saints should have opened the scoring when O’Connor, benefitting from a mazy run and pass by David Mulcahy, had a clear sight on goal but his underhit shot was cleared off the line by Danny Lafferty with Doherty a helpless bystander.

St Patrick’s assumed control from that point on with Derek Pender offering an attacking presence with his marauding runs from right-full and it was O’Connor who was once again denied in the 25th minute when Doherty saved well at his near post after O’Connor had raced onto an intelligent through ball from Paul Crowley.

O’Connor’s run across the Derry defence were proving a handful for the visitors and on the half hour he deservedly broke the deadlock, lobbing sublimely over the stranded Doherty from 16 yards after an inviting pass by David McMillan.

The remainder of the half saw City enjoy a greater degree of possession but they lacked a cutting thrust and deservedly entered the break a goal in arrears.

The visitors thought they had levelled matters when Harkin found McLaughlin racing in behind Connor Kenna but the left-winger clearly used his hand in controlling the ball before placing a measured finish beyond Bennion and was correctly penalised.

The equaliser did arrive however in the 73rd minute with the unfortunate Bennion playing a key role its inception.

After comfortably collecting a Zayed header, Bennion was dispossessed as he looked to deliver a clearance with McLaughlin the grateful recipient as he rolled the ball home into the unguarded net.

The costly blunder looked to drain the confidence from the hosts and they failed to replicate their earlier spark, allowing Derry to seize control for a brief period.

However, it was Athletic who spurned a glorious chance to claim all three points when Stephen Bradley saw his 91st minute spot kick strike the butt of the post after substitute Danny North was felled by Ryan McBride inside the penalty area and thirty seconds from time another substitute Derek Doyle saw his close-range header come crashing off the Derry crossbar.          

ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC: Bennion; Pender, Kenna, E McMillan, Carroll; D McMillan (Murphy, 81), Mulcahy, Bradley, Crowley, O’Connor (Doyle, 69); Kavanagh (North, 85).

DERRY CITY: Doherty; Molloy, Greacen (S McEleaney, 90+2), McBride, Lafferty; McEleney, Deery, Higgins, McLaughlin (Friars, 90+2); Harkin (McDaid, 59), Zayed.

REFEREE: D Hancock (Dublin)