Derry City 4 Finn Harps 0:DERRY CITY may have strolled into the third round of the FAI Cup, but it was a former Harps winger who put the Donegal men to the sword with two first-half goals.
Having netted twice against Bray on Monday, Stephen McLaughlin repeated the dose against his former club.
With Finn Harps displaying great spirit during the early stages of the game, McLaughlin dampened that enthusiasm on the half-hour.
After both sides had tested the opposing goalkeeper, it was Derry who moved into the driving seat following a corner.
Patrick McEleney floated the ball into the danger area where the unmarked McLaughlin guided the ball home from close range to break the deadlock.
And McLaughlin doubled Derry’s lead nine minutes later when he produced a superb finish after a fluent move by the home side.
After the break it was 3-0 when Rory Patterson lobbed Harps keeper Gallagher and within two minutes Barry Molloy headed home Ruaidhrí Higgins’ cross for his side’s fourth goal, sealing their passage to the next round with still over half an hour to play.
DERRY CITY: Doherty; Madden, S McEleney (McCallion, 70 mins), McBride, McCaffrey; P McEleney (Farren, 63 mins) Higgins, Molloy, McLaughlin; Morrison, Patterson (McDaid, 74 mins).
FINN HARPS: Gallagher; Bonnar, Hutton, O’Hagan, Green; Harkin (Merritt, 58), McGowan, McBride, Coll; Tracey (Duffy, 70 mins), McVeigh.
Referee: P Tuite (Dublin).
