Derry ease past Dundalk to extend winning streak

Derry City easily saw off Dundalk 3-0 at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium to secure their third victory in a row.

The home side never looked back after Jordan McEneff's 20th minute opener, before second-half goals from Brandon Kavanagh and Michael Duffy made it a more comfortable evening.

For Dundalk, who had won four games on the bounce going into the encounter, it's back to the drawing board. They were second best for long periods and only really created chances after Brandon Kavanagh's goal on the hour mark.

Derry went close to taking a 14th minute lead, but Duffy's long-range strike drew a superb save from Dundalk 'keeper Nathan Shepperd, who did well to turn the ball away for a corner.

Six minutes later the deadlock was broken as the home side went in front. Cian Kavanagh's knock down found McEneff in acres of space inside the Dundalk box; the midfielder steadied himself before drilling the ball low in off Shepperd's right-hand post.

Dundalk were forced into an early change soon after City's opener with skipper Darragh Leahy having to be replaced by Ryan O'Kane, after the defender failed to recover from an earlier challenge with McEneff.

Just after the half-hour mark Derry were forced into a change themselves as Ciaran Coll had to replace Shane McEleney, who seemed to pick up a groin problem.

McEneff went close to scoring his second of the night on 52 minutes as Ben Doherty's right-wing corner found him at the back post, but his header, which had Shepperd beaten, was cleared off the line by Paul Doyle.

Derry did add a second on the hour mark in superb fashion as Brandon Kavanagh picked up possession after Dundalk cleared Duffy's initial corner, and the youngster unleashed a stunning 25-yard drive past Shepperd.

Cian