St Patrick's Athletic kept their hopes of European football next season alive when a hotly-disputed 82nd-minute penalty by Trevor Molloy gave them a vital point at Richmond Park last night.
The champions looked as though they were heading for defeat after Liam Coyle's headed goal had given Derry the lead 10 minutes into the second half. But the home team secured a point when Molloy fired home his spot kick after defender Peter Hutton was adjudged to have fouled Marcus Hallows.
Derry had had a real let-off after just four minutes when Hallows rifled in a shot from 10 yards, but Hutton was back to clear off the line.
St Patrick's were desperately unlucky not to grab the lead five minutes after the interval, following a tremendous 70-yard run by defender Barry Prenderville. He cracked in a ferocious shot from the edge of the box which rebounded off the underside of the bar to be headed to safety by Sean Hargan.
ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC: Wood; Prenderville, Lynch, McGuinness, Doyle; Croly, Hawkins, Russell, Gormley; Molloy, Hallows. Subs: Kelly for Doyle (74 mins); Harte for Croly (79 mins).
DERRY CITY: Platt; McCallion, Kelly, Hutton, Hargan; Moran, Doherty, Hegarty, McCready; Taylor, Coyle. Subs: McIvor for McCready (45 mins); McCaul for Taylor (89 mins).
Referee: J Feighery (Dublin).
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