Hot shot player Ronan Curtis scored a three in Derry 7-3 win over Shelbourne
RONAN Curtis bagged a hat trick last night as Derry battered Shelbourne in the EA Sports Cup quarter-final at the Brandywell.
The striker netted twice to put City in control but David O’Sullivan’s double brought the visitors level before Ronan Hale fired Derry back in front.
Curtis completed his treble and Aaron McEneff’s penalty gave the Candystripes a 5-2 advantage at the break.
A burst of late goals saw James English strike for Shelbourne before City goals from Nicky Low and Nathan Boyle.
Derry were aiming to bounce back from Friday’s 2-1 defeat by Bray Wanderers, which brought their 10-game unbeaten run to an end.
Curtis provided the perfect start by chipping in a sixth-minute opener and he rounded keeper Lee Steacy before slotting in number two.
O’Sullivan hit the bottom corner to pull one back for the First Division side and he equalised with a penalty after Jack Doyle’s foul on Shane Farrell.
Hale blasted in to restore Derry’s lead and Curtis connected with Ben Doherty’s cross for his hat-trick goal on 40 minutes.
McEneff got on the scoresheet two minutes later by converting his spot-kick following a foul on Ronan Hale.
English gave Shelbourne hope with a half-volley finish with nine minutes left but Low restored Derry’s three-goal advantage by dispossessing Steacy and scoring into an empty net.
Boyle completed the rout two minutes into added time with a composed strike into the bottom corner.
