UCD 0
Derry City 2
Derry City moved six points clear at the top of the Premier Division as they gradually wore down a resilient UCD side in Belfield on Monday night.
The Candystripes boast a healthy lead over second-placed Shamrock Rovers as second-half goals from Will Patching and Ronan Boyce saw them to victory.
Ruadhri Higgins’ side hit the woodwork twice during the first half, through Cameron Dummigan and Brandon Kavanagh, and again through Patching after the break.
The dam eventually burst midway through the second half as Patching’s free kick found the net before the Englihsman laid on a second for Boyce.
For long periods, it appeared as if it wasn’t going to happen for the visitors, who found it difficult to break down the Students in a packed middle of the park.
Derry were forced to seek space in the channels but they did begin to create, with Boyce volleying wide on a foray in from the right before Lorcan Healy denied Patching.
Adam Verdon was the first to threaten for the Students as he sent a daisy-cutter wide of the target before Healy bid brilliantly to push a Dummigan effort onto the post.
As the half-hour approached, Kavanagh was next to strike the woodwork as he curled a beautiful shot left-footed onto the crossbar with Healy beaten.
Colm Whelan, who was impressive again at number nine, had a chance to put UCD in front as Brian Maher was caught a long way from goal but he couldn’t volley on target.
And the former Waterford man zipped a lovely ball low across the six-yard box in injury time but there was nobody on the end to capitalise.
Derry turned up the intensity after the break and Patrick McEleney forced Healy into a sharp save before the keeper tipped a Patching thunderbolt onto to the bar.
Shane McEleney had the ball in the net as he nodded home a Patching corner but it was ruled out for a foul. The UCD net’s good fortune would not last forever, though.
The visitors, who had to wait until injury time to seal a turnaround win at Bohemians on Friday, were awarded a free kick 25 yards out.
Patching had been denied by Healy and the woodwork moments earlier but there was nothing either could do as he planted a precise shot low in the corner.
Kavanagh was denied a second by another smart Healy stop and, moments later, Sean Brennan shot wide at the other end.
The insurance goal arrived 13 minutes from time and Patching was again the architect, his inviting cross tapped home by Boyce at the back post.
UCD: Lorcan Healy; Eric Yoro, Sam Todd, Evan Osam; Michael Gallagher, Jack Keaney,, John Ryan (Dylan Duffy 72), Adam Verdon (Evan Caffrey 61); Sean Brennan (Donal Higgins 72), Liam Kerrigan, Colm Whelan (Lennon Gill 83).
Derry City: Brian Maher; Shane McEleney, Eoin Toal, Cameron McJannet; Ronan Boyce, Cameron Dummigan, Patrick McEleney (Joe Thomson 75), Brandon Kavanagh (Evan McLaughlin 84); Matty Smith, Will Patching (Jack Malone 84), Matty Smith (James Akintunde 70).
Referee: Kevin O’Sullivan.
