St Patrick's Athletic 0 Derry City 1: With Scottish Premier League side Dunfermline Athletic officially confirming him as they new manager during last night's game, Stephen Kenny endured an emotional night at Richmond Park as his Derry players battled their way back into the title race.

To add to the drama, Derry survived a penalty and then had a stoppage-time goal for St Patrick's disallowed.

Derry are now three points behind leaders Shelbourne with two games left, and that now crucial arbitration decision, to come.

Kenny will remain in charge of Derry for Friday's final league game at home to Cork City. He will then leave to take charge of Dunfermline at home to Dundee United the following day. Kenny, however, will then return to take charge of Derry for the FAI Cup final against last night's opponents at Lansdowne Road on December 3rd.

Having been given the definite news of their manager's imminent departure before kick-off, the Derry players seemed a little bewildered as, with four changes in the side adding to the disruption, they started poorly and should have been behind on 13 minutes.

Clive Delaney, making his first league start of the season, clumsily brought down Colm Foley as the defender, up for a corner, latched onto Sean O'Connor pass.

But David Forde, who's likely to be one of Kenny's first signings at Dunfermline, dived the right way to brilliantly push away Michael Foley's penalty.

That woke Derry from their slumber and they might have taken the lead at the other end five minutes later. Gary Beckett set up Sean Hargan to bring a good save from Barry Ryan.

Derry had another let-off on 22 minutes. Mark Rooney beat Eddie McCallion at the end line to pick out Trevor Molloy. But Molloy flagrantly blazed over the bar with the goal at his mercy.

But in a very open game now, Ryan had to make two decent saves inside as many minutes midway through the half.

Derry dominated from the resumption and got the only goal of this cup final rehearsal on 61 minutes. Substitute Pat McCourt weaved his magic in from the left to cross and Mark Farren forced the ball home from close range.

ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC: Ryan; S Quigley, C Foley, Brennan (Fahey, 28 mins), Frost; M Quigley (Grogan, 84), Murphy, M Foley, O'Connor; Rooney, Molloy (Armstrong, 84).

DERRY CITY: Forde; McCallion, Hutton, Delaney, Hargan (McCourt, 58); Deery, Higgins, Molloy, Brennan; Beckett (Martyn, 90), Farren (McGlynn, 87).

Referee: Richie Winter (Dublin).