Will Patching and Pat Hoban score as Derry City defeat Galway United

Derry City 2

Galway United 0

Will Patching and Pat Hoban struck second half goals as Derry City saw off a stubborn Galway United at the Brandywell. 

The Candystripes had struggled in previous games against Galway this season, taking one point from a possible six without scoring a goal. But there was never any sign of Galway repeating their victory at the Brandywell in March, as City controlled this game for long periods.

There was a lightning quick start from Derry City and Brendan Clarke was called into action twice in the first 70 seconds. Galway defended a free kick into their area, but Ben Doherty chipped a pass straight back in which was met by an acrobatic effort from Pat Hoban which Clarke had to claw away.

The ball then found its way to the feet of Will Patching 20 yards from goal and he tried his luck with a dipping effort which had to be held by Clarke with Hoban lurking.

Having scored three first half goals against Waterford on Monday, Derry were clearly eager to start well again, and Hoban sent Michael Duffy racing into the area before the winger crossed to the back post where Paul McMullan arrived to volley wide.

Despite that good start, the first half proved to be largely frustrating for the home side as Galway settled into the game and took all sting out of the game.

The monotony was almost broken five minutes before the half time break however, when Doherty found Hoban with his back to goal, and the striker laid it off for Patching, who worked enough space to get a shot away, which was again saved well by Clarke. Hoban was first to the rebound in a crowd of players, and he volleyed it into the ground, with Clarke recovering to tip the ball over the bar and behind for a corner.

Breaking through the league’s best defence was proving to be a difficult task for the hosts, but they came close right on the hour when Doherty’s corner found Hoban, but his downward header at the back post was cleared away by substitute Stephen Walsh.

The goal Derry City desperately needed came just five minutes later as Galway finally cracked. Michael Duffy exchanged passes with Ben Doherty on the left before racing past O’Sullivan and crossing low for Patching, who guided the ball beautifully past Clarke and into the top corner of the net to make it 1-0.

The game remained in the balance until four minutes from time when Derry City doubled their lead. Cameron Dummigan spread play to the right wing with a raking 40-yard pass which set substitute Daniel Kelly away, and his low cross was turned in from close range by Pat Hoban.

Teams

Derry City: Maher, Dummigan, Connolly, S McEleney, Doherty (McJannett 88’); Diallo (Boyce 76’), O'Reilly, Patching (Mullen 90’); McMullan (Kelly 76’), Hoban, Duffy.

Galway United: Clarke, Esua, Slevin, Brouder, Kazeem; McCarthy, McCormack, Nugent (Hickey 69’), Hurley (Lomboto 69’), Dervin (Walsh 53’); O'Sullivan (Gaxha 82’).

Referee: Eoghan O'Shea (Dublin).