Derry City will be strongly behind the efforts of Sligo Rovers in next Sunday’s FAI Cup final following this demolition of Limerick at the Brandywell.

The comprehensive victory sees the Candystripes finish in fourth spot in the Premier Division table with the possibility of playing in the Europa League next summer now depending on a Sligo win at the Aviva Stadium.

However, as last night's scoreline suggests, it was a stroll for the home side but the pre-Halloween fireworks were not lit until the second half. Michael Rafter has laid the foundation for victory with a seventh minute goal, before David McDaid weighed-in with a memorable hat-trick following the change of ends.

The striker hit the target in the 47th, 61st and 69th minutes while Dean Jarvis scored his first goal for Derry in the 66th minute.

Simon Madden ended the rout in the 78th minute with Derry's sixth goal as the young Limerick team clearly struggled.

DERRY CITY: Doherty; Madden (Osborne, 87), McBride, Molloy, Jarvis; McEleney, McNamee; Patterson, McDaid (Foy, 72), Curran; Rafter (Griffin, 74).
LIMERICK: Cusack; Kelly, Whitehead, Folan, Murphy; Sheedy ( Rainsford, 64), Hughes (Hanlon, 77), O'Leary, Tiofack (McGrath, 70); Gaffney, Bradley.
Referee : P McLaughlin (Monaghan).