Derry City sealed the runner's up spotin the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division for the second season running, after a convincing victory over St Patrick's Athletic at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium.
Goals from Brandon Kavanagh, Will Patching and Jordan McEneff sealed the victory over the Saints, who in truth were going through the motions ahead of next week's FAI Cup final, where they will face Bohemians, at the Aviva Stadium.
City should have taken the lead after just 80 seconds as Paul McMullan's right wing cross to the back post found Mark Connolly, but the big centre-back headed wide with the goal at his mercy. Derry deservedly took the lead on 12 minutes as Patching's right wing centre was flicked on at the near post by Cameron McJannet and the alert Kavanagh chested the ball home from close range.
Derry scored a stunning second goal on 26 minutes as Patching fired home left footed from 20 yards, after a fantastic flowing passing move by Kavanagh and Ben Doherty created the opening.
Saints keeper Dean Lyness, who could have done better for Patching's goal, did well moments later to keep out Kavanagh's curling left wing free-kick. A fantastic passing move by City on 45 minutes ended with McMullan's cut-back finding and unmarked Michael Duffy, but the Derry man side footed wide with the goal at his mercy.
The Saints made a double change at the break with David Norman and Thijs Timmermans replacing Anthony Breslin and Joe Redmond and the changes nearly worked but Brian Maher did well to parry away Jason McClelland's stinging drive.
Derry should have netted a third on 57 minutes as Patching inch perfect centre across the six yard box found an unmarked Duffy, but he somehow side footed over the bar from virtually on
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