Derry City - 4 Sligo Rovers - 0: Derry City cruised to a comfortable victory at a wet Brandywell last night to remain within four points of Premier Division leaders Shelbourne with a game in hand.
After Saturday night's victory in Longford, Stephen Kenny's men made it clear they had not given up hope of going one better than last season's league effort.
Sligo will have no complaints at last night's defeat - their heaviest of the season - and their sights are firmly focused on Sunday week's FAI Cup semi-final which is also against Derry City at the Showgrounds.
Three goals in the space of 11 minutes ended this tie as a contest, Darren Kelly breaking the deadlock in the 18th minute.
Gareth McGlynn's deep corner found Kelly at the back post and his looping header dropped into the far corner of the net.
Six minutes later it was 2-0, a Seán Hargan shot from 30 yards deflecting off the body of Sligo captain Michael McNamara giving goalkeeper John O'Hara no chance. And the game was effectively over in the 29th minute when Stephen O'Flynn worked his way into the danger area from the left before his powerful shot crashed into the net with O'Hara getting a touch.
Sligo's only clear-cut opportunity of the opening half came from a Chris Turner shot in the 39th minute which sailed agonisingly wide of David Forde's upright.
With Harpal Singh joining Mansaram in the frontline for the second half, Sligo improved but it was Derry who went closest to scoring in the 61st minute.
Sligo came close to reducing the deficit in the 66th minute when a cross from Turner was driven against the post by Adam Hughes. But the home side added a fourth in the 67th minute when O'Flynn unselfishly set up Farren and he drove the ball into the corner from 18 yards.
DERRY CITY: Forde; McCallion, Kelly, Hutton, Hargan; McGlynn, Martyn (Higgins, 63 mins), Molloy, O'Flynn; Beckett (Holmes, 44 mins), Farren (Deery, 77 mins).
SLIGO ROVERS: O'Hara; Peers, McNamara, Burns, Foy; Curran (Kuduzovic, 36 mins), Hughes (Coleman, 75 mins), O'Grady, Turner, Singh; Mansaram (McTiernan, 59 mins).
Referee: R Winters (Wicklow)
