Timlin pleased for high flying Derry City but says Pat's must improve soon

The 21 year-old Buncrana man has netted four goals in 13 appearances for St Pat’s since his close season move to Inchicore.

But Friday night proved the grass isn’t always greener with Barry McNamee’s second half strike leaving the ‘Saints’ trailing his former club by SEVEN points following the conclusion of the first third of the season.

And Timlin reckons St Patrick’s Athletic must ‘start clicking soon’ if they are to challenge for Europe.

“Everyone has been impressed with the way Derry have started the season,” said Timlin. “The new manager has come in and has obviously instilled a bit of confidence in the team. They’ve been going really well of late and it is nice to see them do so well. I always look for Derry’s results.

“But, hopefully, come the end of the season, we’ll be doing a whole lot better,” he added. “Barry took his goal well, it was a nice goal - a one-two off Rory (Patterson) and it’s good to see him do so well this year as well.”

Timlin was deployed in a central role, just in behind striker, Jamie McGrath but the Derry defence restricted him to limited chances on a frustrating night for St Pat’s.

“We never really started at all,” added Timlin.

“I don’t think there was that much in the game in terms of chances up until the goal.

“And, once they scored, we didn’t really look like we would come back. There was a couple of shouts for penalties and we looked at them again in the changing rooms and one was a stone wall penalty.

“But, in terms of performances, it just wasn’t good enough. We really need to click soon because that’s the first series of games over now and we still haven’t gelled as a team at all - especially at home where we’re expected to go and take the game to teams but we’re not at the minute and it’s disappointing,” he concluded.