Damien Lynch ghosts past Derry's Billy Dennehy at Inchicore

St Patrick's Athletic secured second place in the Eircom Premier League after beating Derry City in Monday's clash at Richmond Park.

The superb Keith Fahey put Pat's ahead on 39 minutes by firing home after playing a one-two with Alan Kirby.

Mark Quigley doubled the Pat's lead on 84 minutes from the penalty spot after Mark McChrystal had been adjudged to have handled.

Mark Farren pulled a goal back with the final kick of the game in injury-time.

Much of the talk before the game had centred on the admission by Pat's midfielder Gary Dempsey that he had placed a 20 Euro bet on Galway United to beat his colleagues in a recent game.

Dempsey had not lined out in the game but picked up a suspension for betting against his team.

However, the Pat's players shrugged off the controversy to deservedly pick up the points at Inchicore.

Damien Lynch missed an early chance for Pat's while Barry Molloy wasted a Derry opportunity on 15 minutes.

However, Pat's were the better team - thanks mainly to Fahey's industry.

The striker is expected to sign for an English club during the off-season and he will be a hard act to follow in the Pat's attack.

After Fahey's 39th-minute opener, Ryan Guy had a chance to add to the Pat's lead before the interval but Doherty made a fine save.

Derry tried to rally midway through the second half and Kevin Deery tested Pat's goalkeeper Barry Ryan on 64 minutes.

However, Pat's continued to look the better side and Quigley made sure of the points six minutes from time when he slammed in the penalty.

Farren's goal came too late for Derry who finish third in the table but still have the FAI Ford Cup final to look forward to on 23 November.

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