Derry City kicked off their bid to their bid to win the League of Ireland with a 2-1 win over Drogheda United side at a sold-out Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium.
Second-half goals from Ronan Boyce and Pat Hoban gave the home side the advantage and while Evan Weir pulled a goal back, the Candystripes worked hard and ran out deserved winners.
Kevin Doherty’s side, to their credit, will leave Foyleside disappointed they didn’t take anything from the game, especially as substitute Ryan Brennan missed a second-half spot-kick, at a crucial time in the game.
The large home support were delighted that striker Hoban marked his competitive debut with a goal and his poacher-like finish just after the hour mark was something that was missing last season.
Doherty will take a lot of heart from his side’s second-half performance, which with a bit more luck could have earned them a share of the spoils.
The visitors, who started with Zishim Bawa and Frantz Pierrot up top, almost took a 22nd-minute lead when the Swedish native got in behind the City defence, but his left-footed strike was well saved by an out-rushing Maher.
Moments later, the lively Paul McMullan tested Andrew Wogan but the Drogheda goalkeeper did well to hold onto the Scot’s 20-yard pile-driver.
City went close again 35 minutes as Patching’s corner found Mark Connolly but the big centre-back’s powerful header, which had Wogan beaten, landed on top of the net.
Drogs were forced into a change at half-time with Pierrot replaced by Ryan Brennan, but it was the hosts who took the lead 62 seconds into the second half.
A ball fell to Hoban, who flicked it onto Boyce’s path and the right-back cut inside onto his left-foot, before curling the ball home into the top-right corner from some 25 yards.
Drogheda missed a glorious chance to equalise on 51 minutes as referee Damien MacGraith rightfully pointed to the spot after Cameron McJannett’s high boot had caught Aaron McNally on the head, but Brennan’s penalty was kept out by a diving Brian Maher, the City keeper dived to his left to parry the spot-kick away.
Derry doubled their lead just after the hour mark with Hoban’s debut goal. The ex-Dundalk front-man made no mistake from close range, firing home with his left foot, after Wogan could only parry away Patching’s initial stinging drive straight into his path.
The County Louth men pulled a goal back on 67 minutes as Evan Weir’s 20-yard free-kick took a massive deflection off the City wall to wrong foot Maher and fizz into the net but though they had more possession in the final quarter they never did enough to threaten an equaliser.
Derry City: Brian Maher, Ronan Boyce, Mark Connolly (Shane McEleney 66), Cameron McJannet, Ben Doherty (Ciaran Coll 81); Cameron Dummigan, Jordan McEneff (Adam O’Reilly 76), Will Patching; Michael Duffy, Patrick Hoban, Paul McMullan (Daniel Kelly 76).
Drogheda United: Andrew Wogan, Evan Weir, Jack Keaney, Hayden Cann; Conor O’Kane, Gary Deegan, Oisin Gallagher (Warren Davis 61), Aaron McNally (Adam Foley 78); Darragh Markey; Frantz Pierrot (Ryan Brennan HT), Zishim Bawa.
Referee: Damien MacGraith (Dublin)
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