Drogheda 0 Derry City 3: DERRY EASED to a comprehensive victory in what will surely go down as one of the most one-sided contests of the season.

Eamon Zayed put the visitors ahead after ten minutes. James McClean sent the ball out right to Zayed who all too easily brushed off the attentions of Philip Hand to fire home.

Tiernan Mulvenna flashed a header wide for the home side but normal service was quickly resumed at the other end when Gareth McGlynn created an opening only to see his shot saved by keeper Stephen Trimble.

Derry should have been out of sight before the break but they failed to convert a host of chances. McClean, Ruaidhrí Higgins and Patrick McEleney all went close for the visitors.

Derry continued to dominate and McClean could have scored a hat-trick in the third quarter.

First up his goal-bound strike was unknowingly turned out for a corner off a defender, he then dragged an effort across the face of goal before Trimble denied the livewire striker with a fine stop.

However, the visitors were finally rewarded on 74 minutes when McClean provided the cross for Gareth McGlynn who steered his header to the net.

But there was nothing the Drogheda ’keeper could do to prevent Zayed pouncing for his second on the night and Derry’s third right on full-time as the in-form striker slotted the ball home from close range.

DROGHEDA: Trimble, C O’Brien, Hand, Ekanem, McNally, Gannon, M O’Brien (Clarke 82), McMahon, Corcoran, Mulvenna (Freeman 82), Brennan (Quigley 82).

DERRY CITY: Doherty, McCallion, Grecian, S McElhinney, P McElhinney (McLaughlin 90), McClean, McBride, McGlynn, Higgins, Zayed, Lafferty.

Referee: D Tamney (Dublin).