Derry City booked their place in European football next season with a 4-0 victory over Finn Harps on Friday night in the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium. And a place in the Europa League qualifiers was secured with guile and ultimately some comfort
Derry City secured their first win in five games with a 4-0 victory over Finn Harps at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium.
The victory takes City one point behind Bohemians in third, with Finn Harps sinking to the bottom of the table. A blitz of goals from Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe and a hat-trick from Ciaron Harkin granted the Candystripes the bragging rights in the north-west.
The deadlock was broken after 32 minutes when Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe slotted home from 12-yards after a Daniel O'Reilly foul. Burke almost saved O'Reilly's blushes as he saved Ogedi's attempt but the striker made no mistake from the rebounding, slotting home to rapturous cheer from the Brandywell.
Horgan would have been eager for the half-time whistle but City started at a ferocious pace after the half-hour mark and they secured a game-changing second goal one minute before the break.
Ciaron Harkin emphatically slotting one from the edge of the penalty area to put the Candystripes in control. After the break, Harkin, ever-relentless, pinched possession from Mark Russell inside the 18-yard-box after 67 minutes before his short-range effort found the bottom corner beyond Burke.
And the Creggan man wasn't done yet, in search of his hat-trick, Harkin was gifted an opening in front of goal in injury time when Russell, again, was caught flat-footed at the far post and the midfielder didn't hesitate.
