Derry City boss Ruaidhri Higgins got the response he wanted from his side after Friday's defeat to Shamrock Rovers, as they saw off St Patrick's Athletic for the second time this season.
A Daniel Mullen brace along with Pat Hoban’s eighth goal of the season sealed the points, despite Conor Keeley’s stunning goal for the Saints.
The Saints should have taken a sixth minute lead as Chris Forrester’s left footed cross picked out Mason Melia, but the young striker’s close range header was straight at Derry goalkeeper Brian Maher.
Derry took the lead with their first chance on 16 minutes as Ben Doherty’s left wing cross found Mullen at the back post and the unmarked Scottish striker gleefully side footed past Danny Rogers.
Forrester broke the offside trap just before the half-hour mark to latch onto Jamie Lennon’s pass, but the midfielder’s attempted chip was well off target.
Pat’s went close to equalising on 41 minutes as Brandon Kavanagh went close to making his return to the Brandywell with a goal, but his curling left footed strike from the right hand edge of the box, had to be parried away by a diving Maher.
Just before the break Derry went close to doubling their lead but Patching’s angled effort was straight at Rogers.
The Foylesiders netted their second on 52 minutes as Mark Connolly easily skipped away from Ryan McLaughlin on the left hand side of the box, before seeing his curling shot parried away by Rogers, but Hoban was on hand to turn home his eighth goal of the season.
Credit to the visitors they pulled a goal back two minutes later as Kavanagh’s right wing free-kick was superbly turned home by Keeley, the big centre-back’s close range over head kick effort gave Maher no chance.
Derry restored their two goal advantage on 57 minutes as Patching’s in-swinging left-wing free-kick picked out Mullen and he gleefully headed home his fifth goal of the year.
Forrester went close to making City have a nervy finish on 84 minutes but his dipping shot was well parried away by a diving Maher.
Derry City: Brian Maher, Ronan Boyce, Mark Connolly, Cameron McJannet, Ciaran Coll; Adam O’Reilly, Will Patching, Paul McMullan; Daniel Mullen, Pat Hoban, Ben Doherty (Ciaron Harkin 90).
St Patrick’s Athletic: Danny Rogers, Anthony Breslin, Joe Redmond (Ryan McLaughlin 17), Conor Keeley, Luke Turner; Chris Forrester, Jamie Lennon (Romal Palmer 69), Aaron Bolger; Brandon Kavanagh (Jason McClelland 85), Ruairi Keating (Jake Mulraney HT), Mason Melia (Cian Kavanagh 85).
Referee: Kevin O’Sullivan (Cork).
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