He left it very late but striker Rory Patterson was Derry City’s hero once again as he struck home a rebounded penalty with two minutes to play to inflict a first loss of the year on Cork City at a bitterly cold Turner’s Cross yesterday.

Te win moves the Candystripes within five points of early pacesetters Sligo Rovers.

The goal was a tad fortuitous however as Mark McNulty had initially saved the Northern Ireland striker’s spot-kick, following an Adam Rundle handball a yard inside the box.

Patterson, however, was never going to miss the rebound from six yards.

The win was even more impressive considering Declan Devine’s side were without the services of a six first-teamers, including Barry McNamee and the McEleneys.

Cork, who waved goodbye to their seven game unbeaten start to the campaign, were left very disappointed considering how understrength the Candystripes were.

On a very heavy pitch, the game was disrupted by some poor deliveries in the final third, and it did look to be heading towards a scoreless draw.

The most threatening players on either side, Cork’s Daryl Horgan and Derry counterpart Michael Rafter, were both substituted before the end.

Both came closest to breaking the deadlock for their respective sides, with Horgan a constant threat for the Leesiders. Gerard Doherty had to make five separate saves, of varying difficulty, with the pick of them coming on the stroke of half-time when the midfielder’s cross-cum-shot looked to be heading into the far corner.

Rafter, meanwhile, was desperately unlucky not to open the scoring with a ferocious effort which McNulty stopped brilliantly. But the last word came from Patterson who fired home his fourth of the season.