Patching on the double as Derry down Dundalk to stay in touch at top

Will Patching never scored a league goal in his time at Dundalk but two at Oriel Park saw Derry City claim a big win in the Wee County.

Louth hasn't been a happy hunting ground for Ruaidhrí Higgins’ side in recent years, with just two wins from their previous 10 visits to face Dundalk and their neighbours Drogheda United.

However, two goals from Patching either side of another from Ben Doherty saw them make the trip home with the three points for just the second time in the last decade to keep the Candystripes in the hunt for their third ever league title.

While they remain seven points adrift of table-toppers Shamrock Rovers, they can close that gap to four if they beat bottom of the table UCD in their game in hand on Wednesday.

Derry had to ride their luck at times, however, to claim the win with Brian Maher making a number of top-class saves in either half to deny Stephen O’Donnell’s side, who also struck the woodwork on a couple of occasions.

The home side had more than double the amount of attempts of their opponents throughout but their defensive woes - this was the 19th time in 29 league games they have fallen behind - means their hopes of European football next season might solely rely on their progression in the FAI Cup.

The home side forced a number of fine saves from Maher throughout the half. The first came on 10 minutes when Archie Davies’ ball in from the right was stepped over by Daryl Horgan. This allowed full debutant Sam Durrant to come onto the ball but despite taking a touch to steady himself he could only fire straight at the keeper.

Four minutes later, Derry had their first opening as Paul McMullan fired agonisingly wide after getting in behind Hayden Muller from Danny Mullen’s flick on from Maher’s