Murphy's strike rocks the Brandywell

Derry City 0 St Patrick's Athletic 1:St Patrick's Athletic's superb start to the new season continued at the Brandywell last night when Johnny McDonnell's men recorded what could prove a significant win against Derry City.

With both teams effectively cancelling each other out in what was a flooded midfield, it came as no surprise that goal-scoring chances would be at a premium.

And it was St Patrick's who netted the vital opening in the 40th minute. And from a Derry City point of view, it was a particularly disappointing goal to concede from a set-piece situation for the second time in four days.

Joseph Ndo won the corner on the right and when John Frost curled the ball into the near post, Anthony Murphy's unchecked run saw the midfielder glance the ball to the net. But the visitors certainly could have broken the deadlock earlier with Derry goalkeeper, Pat Jennings, denying Mark Quigley on two occasions.

With Paddy McCourt causing the Pat's defence no shortage of problems on the left side of midfield, the home side went close in the 27th minute when Sean Hargan's cut-back was parried by Patrick's goalkeeper, Barry Ryan, before Ciarán Martyn's attempt to force the rebound home was blocked by a defender.

Derry's woes were compounded one minute before the break when full back Sean Hargan (ankle injury) was forced to retire with Greg O'Halloran entering the fray.

One goal to the good, St Patrick's were always happy to play a containing role after the break and the inclusion of David Mulcahy at the expense of Alan Kirby confirmed that point in the 62nd minute. It resulted in the home side finding it very difficult to get in behind the Pat's defence.

Indeed, St Patrick's could have ended this match as a contest when Mark Quigley forced an opening but his low shot was parried and saved by Jennings.

And St Patrick's had another chance to kill the game in the 88th minute but substitute Sean O'Connor's shot was saved by the Derry goalkeeper.

DERRY CITY: Jennings; McCallion, Kelly, Hutton, Hargan (O'Halloran, 45 mins); McGlynn, Martyn (Farren, 58 mins), Molloy (Higgins, 62 mins), Deery, McCourt; McHugh.

ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC: Ryan; C Foley, Brennan, Paisley; Murphy, Kirby (Mulcahy, 62 mins), Ndo, Fahey (O'Connor, 72 mins), Frost; O'Neill (Maguire, 86 mins), Quigley.

Referee: I Stokes(Dublin)