Derry City returned to winning ways with a comfortable victory over relegated UCD.
Andy Myler’s side amazingly played out a scoreless draw at home to champions Shamrock Rovers last week, but at the Ryan McBride Brandywell they were always second best and could have lost by a bigger margin.
City took an early lead on five minutes in stunning fashion as Michael Duffy’s cross found an alert Daniel Mullen, who’s superb left foot volley from 10 yards, fizzed past UCD keeper Kian Moore.
Derry went close to adding a second on 38 minutes as Paul McMullan’s teasing right wing cross found fellow winger Duffy, but his diving header was tipped over the bar by Moore.
The home side netted a second after just 49 seconds after the interval as from the edge of the box Patching calmly clipped the ball over Moore into the keeper’s top right hand corner.
Derry claimed their third on 54 minutes as Ben Doherty’s right wing corner found Cameron McJannet at the back post, his downward header just about went past Moore.
The Students net-minder made a top drawer save on 68 minutes as McMullan found substitute Jamie McGonigle, just inside the box and his side footed strike was goal-bound but for Moore tipping the ball away.
There was nothing the keeper could do a minute later as substitute Brandon Kavanagh headed home from close range, after Duffy knocked down McMullan’s cross straight into the ex-Bray Wanderers youngster’s path.
Derry grabbed a fifth goal on 76 minutes as Duffy’s close range diving header flew past Moore, after Doherty’s teasing right wing cross had picked out the winger inside the box. UCD’s terrible night continued as they were reduced to ten men on 82 minutes as substitute Jack Keaney picked up his second yellow card for something he said to referee Eoghan O’Shea.
Derry finished their goalscoring off on 89 minutes as former Coleraine front man McGonigle calmly side footed the ball low into Moore’s bottom left hand corner.
Derry City: Brian Maher, Cameron Dummigan, Shane McEleney, Cameron McJannet, Ben Doherty; Sadou Diallo (Jordan McEneff 75), Adam O’Reilly (Brandon Kavanagh 62), Will Patching; Paul McMullan, Daniel Mullen (Jamie McGonigle 62), Michael Duffy (Cian Kavanagh 81).
UCD: Kian Moore, Adam Wells, Brendan Barr (Donal Higins 57), Ciaran Behan (Danu Kinsella Bishop 76), Dara Keane, Harvey O’Brien (Jack Keaney 57), Daniel Norris (Evan Osam 75), Luke O’Regan, Sean Brennan (Jack Doyle 76), Adam Verdon, Eanna Clancy.
Referee: Eoghan O’Shea (Dublin).
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